A new Fresno Housing development, called 'The Monarch,' is providing 57 affordable units in downtown Fresno's Chinatown area. Before its grand opening, the building was at full capacity. Fresno Housing received over 3,000 applications from prospective tenants. The building is named after the monarch butterfly. Fresno Housing officials say the...
Housing Plan Unveiled: 1st-Time Homebuyer Grants, Tiny Homes, Less Red Tape
Standing amid a new housing development in progress on the outskirts of southwest Fresno, city councilmembers Esmeralda Soria, Miguel Arias, and Luis Chavez unveiled a new housing plan on Wednesday. The No Place Like Home initiative will be on the agenda at Thursday's council meeting, which will focus on Fresno's...
$38M State Grant Will Speed Old Smuggler’s Inn Housing Conversion
A $38.3 million state grant will help speed up the conversion of the former Smuggler's Inn into permanent affordable housing for homeless people in Fresno. Previously, the former hotel was updated and renovated to give homeless people longer-term, immediate housing, and help prevent the spread of COVID-19 among the unhoused....
Bank of America Gifts $500K to Fresno Mission’s New Campus Near Manchester Center
The Fresno Mission announced plans last year to remodel the old Sierra Hospital into a campus where people facing a crisis could walk in and be treated with more than a warm bed and a hot meal. As the $30 million project at 2025 E Dakota Ave. nears completion,...
Dyer’s Housing Plan Meets Brick Wall, but Tiny Homes Squeeze Through
The Fresno City Council council approved funding for 24 tiny homes and an extension of the eviction protection program last week. But the council rejected five other housing proposals from Mayor Jerry Dyer, saying that more information was needed on Thursday. The rejected proposals: a voluntary rent stabilization program,...
What are the Top Concerns for Fresno Residents? Survey Says!
After two years in the top spot, worries about the COVID pandemic have been overtaken by other pressing concerns among city of Fresno residents. That's according to an annual survey from the Fresno County Civic Engagement Table. Housing has now replaced COVID-19 as the top worry among many local residents,...
Can City Hall Make Housing More Affordable and Ease Homelessness?
The Fresno City Council will be briefed on 15 housing policies that could go to the city council this month, with the goal of making Fresno housing more affordable, and easing homelessness. Among these 15 policies, rent control, fair chance housing, and establishing a community land trust have been...
Attorney Fighting VMT Law Says It Creates ‘New Green Jim Crow Era in California’
A state law, SB 743, often referred to as Vehicle Miles Traveled, pits homeowner hopefuls against the state's wish to combat climate change, says a civil rights attorney. The limited supply of California real estate is already threatening homeownership for many young millennials and minorities of color across the state...
VA Loan Stigmas Hurt Veterans in Valley Home Bidding Wars
Veterans are finding it difficult to buy houses with VA loans in Fresno's hot housing market, a reflection of what's happening all over the nation. In addition to competition from cash offers and conventional loans, veterans face hurdles created by misconceptions about VA loans. However, there is a path to...
Council Approves $4 Million for Renters, Small Businesses, Farmers
The Fresno City Council voted to take the next step on two grant programs, one for small businesses and one for residents to keep their homes, with a 6-1 vote Thursday. But, ambiguity in the resolution's language could run afoul of federal and state laws when it comes to granting...