On October 14th, The Unity Council welcomed U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge to the Fruitvale Transit Village as part of a two-day stop in the Bay Area to address California’s affordable housing crisis. Secretary Fudge was inspired to see firsthand Fruitvale Transit Village’s national model of mixed-use development that includes prime retail spaces, offices, and affordable apartments.
Co-led by Chris Iglesias, CEO of The Unity Council, and Andy Madeira, CEO of East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC), the tour included visits to Casa Arabella Apartments, the current construction site of Casa Sueños Apartments, and even a stop inside De Colores Head Start.
Throughout the tour, Secretary Fudge praised both the completed and ongoing developments at the Fruitvale Village, from the number of businesses and restaurants to the accessibility of community health clinics and community resources. She was joined by local elected officials, including Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, and advocates in the housing sector.
“The crisis here is as great as it is anywhere, said Secretary Fudge. “But the reason I’m here is because you’ve got solutions too.”
Secretary Fudge’s tour included stops at Casa Arabella apartments, Casa Sueños, the current construction site to 181-units adjacent to Casa Arabella, and De Colores Head Start & Early Head Start Center.
Thank you, Secretary Marcia Fudge, for your interest in learning more about the Fruitvale Transit Village and The Unity Council’s efforts to address the vast need for affordable housing in Oakland.