California Construction News staff writer
Three nonprofit housing developers have been selected to build more than 300 affordable homes in Fontana and San Bernardino as part of California’s Surplus Land Initiative, state officials announced.
Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation, Homes & Hope and Neighborhood Partnership Housing Services were chosen for two Inland Empire sites included in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to advance six projects statewide that will create 843 affordable homes on state-owned land.
In Fontana, the partners plan to redevelop a former Department of Motor Vehicles property into 128 affordable apartments designed for large families. The site is located near employment centers, services and transit in one of California’s fastest-growing regions.
In San Bernardino, the developers will build 205 affordable rental apartments on a Department of General Services site. The project is aimed at addressing housing shortages in a city where many households spend a disproportionate share of their income on rent.
“This is an extraordinary opportunity, and I am deeply grateful to the state and our partners for the trust they have placed in us,” said Alexander Russell, chief executive officer of Homes & Hope. “Together, we intend to turn surplus public land into long-term housing stability for Inland Empire families.”
Neighborhood Partnership Housing Services said the projects will build on its long-standing work in the region.
“NPHS has served the Inland Empire for decades, and these sites will allow us to deepen that work,” said Clemente, a representative of the organization. “By aligning state resources with local and mission-driven partners, we can create homes that support both economic mobility and community resilience.”
The Surplus Land Initiative is part of the state’s broader strategy to address California’s housing shortage by converting underused public land into affordable housing developments.
