Affordable housing for farmworkers in Fresno

Many farmworker families in Fresno County, California, have long faced difficulties in accessing affordable housing. However, there are now government projects and support programs available to help these families find a home.

Daniela Rodríguez, a reporter for Radio Bilingüe and a fellow at UC Berkeley, prepared this report.

For decades, the lack of affordable housing has been a constant challenge for many families who support the agricultural industry in Fresno County with their labor.

Even so, new affordable housing for farmworker families is being built in various communities in the San Joaquin Valley. Michael Duarte, director of operations for Fresno Housing, tells us that the need is urgent and necessary.

“There is a report that says there are more than 30,000 families in the county who occupy low-income housing. Many pay more than 50% of their income in rent, which leaves very little for food or to support their families.”

Recently, projects such as Cherry Crossing in Sanger, La Joya Commons in Firebaugh, and Guardian Village near Fresno are part of a broader effort to serve the farmworker population. At La Joya Commons, 41 of the 68 apartments are reserved for families employed in the fields, says Michael Duarte.

“They live in a place where there isn’t much crime, so their children are safe. There are places where children can play, and we have what we call a ‘community lab,’ a community center where we offer different services. In the summer, there are computers they can use there, and some services. It’s like a center where we can connect with other county services, or help connect them to school, so it depends on what they need.”

They became homeowners for the first time after building their own houses through the Mutual Self-Help Housing (MSHH) program (Mutual Self-Help Housing Association). The program is run by Self-Help Enterprises, a nationally recognized housing and community development organization whose mission is to collaborate with low-income families to build and maintain healthy homes and communities. With no experience in home construction, Melecio López said she and her brother Max Melesio López learned everything from scratch with the support of their construction superintendent, Benny Zurita.

To achieve this, Fresno Housing combines state and federal funds with support from local governments. One of the most important is the Joe Serna, Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant Program, which allocates resources specifically for farmworker housing.

These local efforts are part of a broader context: in California, the discussion on how to expand access to housing for farmworkers is also at stake with the introduction of several legislative packages, including AB 457. This is a bill by Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria, which seeks to address the crisis facing many families.

“Right now, there is an opportunity with the state to receive money, which is specifically for this population, and that is why many apartments are now being built to house farmworkers.”

But the road is not always easy. Fresno Housing Director of Operations Michael Duarte points out that, in some places, proposals to build affordable housing have met resistance from the very people in the community because it is housing for low-income families.

“Before, there were lines of people who would go to local government meetings when we asked for permits, and they were telling officials not to approve the project. But not for good reasons, simply because of the families who were going to live there. They weren’t so open to bringing in the housing.”

The housing crisis not only affects people’s pockets, it also impacts community life. Michael explains that when families have a stable home, the whole community benefits.

“Not only does it help the family, but the children can attend school. Schools need children to function, they buy food in the community, and ranchers and business owners need workers. Everything is connected. But everything, in my opinion, starts with stable housing.”

Michael Duarte also acknowledges that there are still families who are afraid to ask for help, especially if they are undocumented.

“Some programs check your immigration status, and others don’t. But we are not an agency that reports to other government agencies. Therefore, you don’t have to be afraid to inquire and see if you can live there.”

Fresno Housing plans to continue building affordable housing for low-income people. Duarte says that to that end, they maintain an open line of communication with families so they can adjust the design and services of new projects.

Many thanks to Daniela Rodríguez, reporter for Radio Bilingüe and UC Berkeley intern, for this report.