Center will house a Head Start preschool program, after-school program and licensed child care. The project is possible through funding from the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors.

Victorville, Calif. – On Tuesday, April 29 First District County Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt will attend the ground breaking of a community center in the northern region of Victorville where community services, amenities, and youth activities are sparse. The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors awarded the Hope Through Housing Foundation a $650,000 grant to build the center and implement youth development services for the residents of the area. The center is located in Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt’s district. When complete in spring 2009 the community center will house a licensed child care Head Start preschool program for low-income families and supervised after-school programs for school-age children. Currently there are very few services or activities offered for children and residents in the area.
The Ground Breaking ceremony will be held at the Northgate Village Apartments at 17251 Dante Street in Victorville from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. The community center will be built on-site at the apartment complex. The apartment community is owned and managed by National CORE (National CORE) a non-profit developer based in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. The funds for the community center were provided to the nonprofit organization Hope Through Housing Foundation. Hope Through Housing is an affiliated non-profit organization of National CORE that provides family and senior services to National CORE housing communities. When open, community center services will be available to the all residents in the area.
“I am pleased to be part of something that will have positive and lasting effects on the community,” said Supervisor Mitzelfelt, “This center will give children a safe environment to grow, play, and learn.”
“This is an outstanding example of private/public partnership,” said Hope Through Housing Executive Director George Searcy. “Supervisor Mitzelfelt has been such a great supporter of youth and educational development programs in the County. It is an honor to partner with his office on such a significant project.”
The new community center will be comprised of two buildings. The first, measuring 2,694 square feet will house the Head Start preschool and daycare while the other, 2,717 square foot building will host after school programs. Hope Through Housing created a signature youth development program called After School and Beyond. The program provides a safe and caring place where students receive services such as after-school tutoring, homework assistance, computer and Internet access, health and nutrition programming, and positive social development skills. Hope Through Housing plans to partner with high-quality service providers to bring after school programs and services to the center.
Residents of the Northgate community are excited about the plans for the center. Sherrita Bell, a mother of three, ages 10, 12, and 13, and Ann Cameron a grandmother raising her three grandchildren ages 9, 9 and 15 both cited the proximity as a major reason for their enthusiasm.
“With gas prices the way they are, I am excited about having something close by for my kids to be involved in,” said Cameron.
National CORE with Hope Through Housing currently operates 9,500 affordable housing apartments providing homes to more than 27,000 individuals in six states, including Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, New Jersey and Texas.