Construction begins on affordable housing in Fullerton — 6 years after controversy

Construction for affordable housing has started on a city-owned lot in Fullerton — six years after a previous housing proposal on the site for people experiencing homelessness and mental illness sparked intense controversy.

The months-long battle was the subject of the first season of LAist Studios' Imperfect Paradise podcast, "Home is Life" and an accompanying LAist story.

The backstory

In 2018, the local organization Pathways of Hope proposed building 60 to 80 units of permanent supportive housing — apartments with onsite social services — for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness and mental health issues at 1600 W. Commonwealth, a few miles from downtown Fullerton.

After failing to warm neighbors to the project, Pathways decided to pull it, citing lack of support from the community and the City Council.

Several years later, in 2021, a new City Council entered into an agreement with Meta Housing Corporation to build 65 units of affordable housing for families on the lot. The company held a groundbreaking ceremony for the development this week, although construction had already started.

Why there's less opposition now

The project faced much less public opposition this time around.

Elizabeth Hansburg, who heads the Orange County YIMBY organization People for Housing, said she thinks that's largely because of the change in the target population — from single men and women experiencing chronic homelessness, to low-income families.

"That's the difference," she said.

The county's latest homeless count taken in January tallied 208 people living on the streets in Fullerton. That's 100 fewer people than were counted in 2019.

Hansburg also said the pandemic and the accompanying employment plunge made people more sympathetic to the need for housing assistance.

Allison Levy, a project manager with Meta, said the developer considered the community's concerns in the design.

"Our goal was not just, 'OK, let's figure out what we want to do and then how to sell it,' It was, 'What do we actually think will work for the community?'" she said.

'A drop in the bucket'

The state of California wants Fullerton to plan for some 13,000 new housing units over the next five years — a 600% increase over the state's previous requirement for the city.

"Our city is still behind on affordable housing," said Fullerton City Councilmember Ahmad Zahra, who was at the groundbreaking ceremony. "So I hope this is also an encouragement for us to keep moving forward in this direction."

Construction is expected to take 18 months. Levy said Meta plans to hold workshops some six months before the apartments open to inform families on how to apply.