This spring, 80 brand new apartments became available to Riverside, California, residents making 30-60% of the area median income.
Built on land provided by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, in partnership with National CORE, Vista de La Sierra provides not only homes but also opportunity for recreation and community through a pool, BBQ space, outdoor play area, and a community center. The units are also within walking distance of grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, and public transportation.
This project has already benefited individuals and families alike, providing privacy, living space, and security for locals who had none of the above. Ashley, a single mother, experienced renewed hope through Vista de La Sierra when she found herself without a home, newly pregnant, and with three children under the age of nine. Assuming she would quickly find housing, Ashley moved her family into a local shelter—but skyrocketing housing costs made that a mere dream.
A press release dated May 30, 2024, states that in Riverside County, the median price for a home rose 34% in two years. Rent in Riverside and San Bernardino jumped by 41.4% in the last four years, while wage increases rose 23.3 percent.
"I didn't realize how long it would take to get housing," Ashley said. "Our living situation was really difficult. A lot of people at the shelters aren't mentally stable or don't have boundaries, so being in a place like that is scary."
In her efforts to improve life for her children, Ashley was not only working but also attending nursing school full time. Amidst all this, she was caring for two children with sickle cell anemia.
Eventually, increasingly anxious about their living situation, Ashley sent her two oldest children, ages 4 and 8, to live with her grandmother, keeping her 2-year-old with her at the shelter. At night, Ashley studied in her car—one of the only quiet places she could find.
In February 2024, after nearly a year living separately, Ashley and her children were reunited in their new apartment in Vista de La Sierra.
“The property management team went out of their way to help me get my paperwork in order,” Ashley recalled. She added that the apartment gives her and her family a sense of relief, allowing her to focus on getting her degree. “We don’t have to worry about people taking our things or that someone will be in our space. It’s a great feeling to say that this is mine.”
This partnership between the Adventist Church and National CORE is the first of its kind, and includes efforts through Mercy House, Riverside University Health System—Behavioral Health, and Hope Through Housing Foundation. The program offers “wraparound care” to ensure residents have all the tools they need to remain healthy and housed. This includes behavioral health and substance use programs, programs and events focused on employment and social connectedness, and connections to outside resources to break the cycle of generational poverty.
Vista de La Sierra also sets the bar high for affordable housing; the complex was designed with the latest in sustainability features, limiting its carbon footprint through extensive use of solar power, high-efficiency appliances, all-electric heat pumps, and energy-efficient building envelope, helping the building approach zero net energy.
Stephen Mayer, treasurer and CFO for Pacific Union Conference, said the church is excited to have had a key role in making this project a reality. “This is one small way the church can have an impact on the people of Riverside and meet a need within this community.”
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By Becky St. Clair
