ONTARIO, Calif. – National CORE and the City of Ontario have secured a $1 million federal Community Project Grant to support a new affordable housing community that will deliver safer streets, reliable transit and opportunity for families along the Holt Boulevard corridor in downtown Ontario.
The funding, provided by U.S. Rep. Norma Torres, was celebrated March 31 at National CORE’s Vista Verde community, located a block from the new property.
Torres said affordable housing is the top request from her constituents and thanked city leaders and National CORE for working closely together to ensure those needs are being met.
“Every family deserves a safe, affordable place to call home, and that starts with investments like this one,” she said. “I hear every day from constituents struggling with the cost of housing, which is why partnerships with organizations like National CORE are so critical. They do not just make promises, they deliver. I’m proud to have helped support this new community and the families who will call it home.”
The new community, known as Vista Verde II, will provide 144 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartment homes for households earning 30% to 60% of the area median income (AMI) at 905 E. Holt Blvd., along with a raft of neighborhood improvements:
- Grove Avenue Trail Connector, a protected Class I bicycle and pedestrian path linking neighborhoods from Fourth Street to Holt Boulevard.
- ADA-accessible walking paths through Grove Memorial Park, creating safe pedestrian routes where none previously existed.
- Sidewalk repairs, ADA upgrades, traffic calming and crosswalk enhancements along Allyn Avenue, supporting Safe Routes to School and neighborhood safety.
- 10 new bus shelters along key transit corridors.
- Expansion of Sunday service on Omnitrans’ sbX Green Line, providing seven-day-a-week access to transit.
Leaders from National CORE and the City of Ontario said Vista Verde II reflects the power of strong public-private partnerships to revitalize neighborhoods and address California’s critical affordable housing shortfall.
“This project is part of a transformation of this community – transit, parks, sidewalks and, of course, vitally needed housing. It’s going to be beautiful. It’s been critical to have this partnership with the city and with Congresswoman Torres, who long has been a champion for our residents,” National CORE President Michael Ruane said.
Ontario Mayor Paul Leon thanked Torres for helping bring needed workforce housing to Ontario.
“Norma is always there for things like this, things that benefit the community. I care about people who care about people and that’s who we have here,” he said.
Tuesday’s event also included remarks from Ellen, a single mom who moved to Vista Verde in 2024 after struggling with medical bills and rising rents that hit $2,000 a month for her one-bedroom home.
“I worked for Walgreens for 20 years, but then I got sick – I got breast cancer. The rent just kept increasing and the bills just kept piling up. It got to the point where I had to pack myself up and go stay with my mom.”
“I was so stressed going through my treatment, and I just kept looking for a new home the whole time. Then, I got the call. I couldn’t believe it. I just love, love, love it here,” she added.
Ellen said she loves the activities provided at the community by the Hope through Housing Foundation, created by National CORE. Her 12-year-old son participates in summer programs and she has taken two free job training classes through CORE Academy.
“I’m very thankful to National CORE and I pray to God that you continue to help families. You don’t know how much this means to us. If I didn’t have National CORE, I don’t know where I’d be right now,” she said.
National CORE Chairman Jeff Burum said individuals like Ellen are why the organization is committed to building new affordable housing.
“This is what we do every day. We believe in community, we believe in families,” he said.
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