By Dianne Anderson

At a time when affordable housing is out of reach for most communities of color, the Inland Empire and San Bernardino can expect new spacious factory-built single-family homes along with Accessory Dwelling Units that won’t break the bank.

Through the Neighborhood Partnership Housing Services LLC project, the company will use its own infill developments along with developer partners with direct sales of homes to local homebuyers.

First Ward Councilman Theodore Sanchez had an opportunity to tour a NPHS affordable housing project in San Bernardino, and was very impressed. He said ADUs are also a necessary component toward solving the housing crisis in California.

“The work they are doing to successfully build affordable infill housing not only meets an urgent need in our city, but proves it can be done. We are excited that NPHS has partnered with Chase to build even more units in San Bernardino. This is a win for our residents,” he said.

Carolina Jannicelli

Last week, community members and local leaders turned out to break ground on a Westside home and ADU located at 538 Ramona Ave in San Bernardino.

The new gateway factory-built demonstration project includes a front unit 3 bedroom, 2 bath home at 1,459 square feet, and another full 2 bedroom 2 bath 800 square feet ADU on the property. Units are fire-resistant, and solar-powered with many high-performance amenities. Completion is expected by July 2023.

Both units will have Energy Star rated appliances included. There is a 2 Car Garage for the front unit home, solar panels on both units, along with an energy storage system and a tankless water heater.

Clemente Arturo Mojica, CEO of the nonprofit, said the new launch of Homes by NPHS LLC is an exciting social enterprise that delivers top-of-the-line technology.

He said it combines innovation with community development strategies for communities of color, and offers equitable access to homeownership opportunities.

“This model will not only leverage the potential of factory-built housing technology to increase the supply of affordable homeownership, but also address the systemic obstacles that have historically impeded households of color from achieving and sustaining homeownership,” said Mojica in an email.

With housing demand at all-time highs, and as interest rates rise, homebuyers remain most concerned about affordability. Under the current interest rate, a family earning 80% of the area’s median income can typically afford a home priced between $250-275,000.

Greg O’Donnell said their new home prices will vary depending on the subsidies included for infill developments, but many options are available to help get folks in the door. Infill development indicates that the building is built on under-utilized or vacant lands.

“Our infill developments included multiple layers of down payment assistance to make them affordable for low-to-moderate income families,” said O’Donnell, Chief Impact Officer for NPHS.

To help families qualify, NPHS offers several down payment and closing cost assistance for first-time low-to-moderate income homebuyers, including access to NPHS down payment assistance programs. The company also administers down payment assistance programs for local municipalities.

With opening more of their housing for the BIPOC community, he said homebuyers of color can access special purpose credit programs with down payment assistance. Affordable and equitable mortgage financing to purchase factory-built homes are available, along with homeownership education in various languages covering the benefits of factory-built housing.

Borrowers must be able to qualify for an adequate first mortgage loan that covers the difference between available subsidies provided, but he emphasized that if families are not yet buyer-ready, NPHS can get them ready.

The company also provides HUD-approved homebuyer education and counseling to prepare them for homeownership. The project is also helping BIPOC developers get in on the bid process and access upcoming opportunities.

“Homes by NPHS is going to implement an outreach campaign to connect and educate underserved developers of color with the many benefits of factory-built housing. This will include faith-based organizations that own land and whose congregations are people of color,” he said.

The NPHS project is supported by JPMorgan Chase with a three-year $3 million investment to increase affordable single-family homes and ADUs in San Bernardino. The investment also helps with several sustainable upgrades, like weatherization that can lower energy costs.

“JPMorgan Chase is dedicated to driving an inclusive economy and addressing systematic and structural challenges to improve the ability of Black, Hispanic, and Latino households to access, secure, and maintain safe and affordable homes,” stated Carolina Jannicelli, Head of Community Impact at JPMorgan Chase. “The California Dream of owning a home has moved further out of reach for many families here in the Inland Empire. We are excited to lay the groundwork that will create innovative affordable housing right here in San Bernardino.”

For more information, see https://nphsinc.org/