Skip to Content
Streetsblog California home
Streetsblog California home
Log In
Affordable Housing

HOPE Converts Long Beach Parcel to Affordable Housing for Adults with Disabilities

Syndicated from Streetsblog sister site LongBeachIze

A small parcel on Redondo Avenue between First Street and Broadway has been converted to a five-unit affordable housing complex specifically for adults with developmental disabilities thanks to a partnership between nonprofit Home Ownership for Personal Empowerment, or HOPE, and the city of Long Beach.

HOPE’s mission is a specific one: Focusing on properties that can be converted to eight units or less, they then create stable housing for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

This mission has been preceded by a dark stain in U.S. housing policy: Long before a landmark Supreme Court ruling in 1999—that individuals with disabilities should be cared for in the least restrictive environment possible—adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities were often cast away from their family and thrown into harsh mental institutions. In 1967, over 200,000 adults with disabilities were in mental institutions.

While parents have become much more accepting of children with disabilities, provided they had both the time and money to funnel their children through needs-specific education and care, becoming an adult can prove a difficult transition, even for families with full support systems. Given this, there are still hundreds of thousands of adults with developmental disabilities that have either lost their families, been disconnected, or simply need to transition into adult living—and it is this group of people who desperately need a facility that can cater to their needs.

“Because people with developmental disabilities live in every neighborhood, HOPE’s housing strategy is one of acquisition and rehabilitation of existing single-family homes and small multifamily buildings,” said Ian Nevarez, community relations manager for HOPE. “This allows us to access communities that are more difficult to build in for affordable housing developers that utilize new construction and larger scale housing models.”

In this case, HOPE acquired the property at 116 Redondo Ave. through a private transaction but had hoped that the city of Long Beach could provide additional housing funds. Following a proposal through a competitive RFP process, the city rewarded HOPE with additional funds to complete the project as it was, according to the award, in alignment with the city’s affordable housing strategy.

While tenants have have not been formally selected, units will be reserved for those with developmental disabilities such as Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, or other similar disabilities.

“HOPE and our service partners at Harbor Regional Center and Ambitions CA will work to address accessibility needs as the tenants and their needs are identified,” Nevarez said. “Currently, those two organizations are interviewing and vetting candidates with the process expected will be completed this summer.”

According to Nevarez, the project was funded with nearly $850,000 in CHDO/HOME funds through the Long Beach Community Investment Company; $1 million in financing through Clearinghouse CDFI; and more than $220,000 in foundation grants from Ahmanson, Bess J Hodges, Del Harbor, Wells Fargo, Bank of the West, Union Bank, and Opus Bank Foundations. Additionally, 10,0000 was contributed by Ambitions CA for furnishings. All ongoing services are funded and coordinated through the Harbor Regional Center.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog California

Wednesday’s Headlines

Headlines are dominated by red lights and Trump.

October 15, 2025

The Audacious Idea to Connect America With Trails Is More Necessary Now Than Ever

Seattle's bike blogger takes a ride on some of Washington's best rail trails — and makes the case for extending the "Great American Rail Trail" across the country.

October 14, 2025

What was signed: More Cameras, Faster Builds for Transit/Bike/Ped, More Time for Breathalyzers after DUI’s

He may have waited to the last second, but the Governor made some big news and made big promises yesterday.

October 14, 2025

Gov’s Signature on SB 63 Launches Campaign to Fund Transit

There will be a ballot measure to fund Bay Area transit in November of 2026. But now the real work begins: building support, gathering signatures, and getting a majority of voters to approve it.

October 14, 2025

Huntington and Fremont to get Complete Street Redesigns in South Pasadena

Early concepts portray lush, green streets - with pedestrian, bike, and bus facilities.

October 14, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines

More on some of the legislation signed before the deadline, and we'll have a final wrap later today.

October 14, 2025
See all posts