FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — A community riddled with controversy in recent years is now being given new life.
“Seeing everything so empty, just kind of sucks,” said Angelica Cazares.
Cazares says her family has lived at the La Hacienda Mobile Estates for ten years.
The community she’s learned to love has become riddled with dozens of abandoned homes and empty lots.
But nearly $5 million dollars of state funding will soon transform the park.
$4.9 million from California’s Homekey+ Program will allow the City of Fresno and Self Help Enterprises to revitalize La Hacienda in Northeast Fresno.
In 2021, two fires destroyed five homes and left one man dead.
And the next year, tenants were suddenly told the park was closing.
Self Help Vice President Betsy McGovern-Garcia says her team is committed to creating a safe and stable place to live.
“Once we acquire a community, we’re in it and we’re committed to being a good neighbor and a good operator of that community,” McGovern-Garcia said.
Construction has already begun and 18 brand new units are set to be installed,
Each one will cost roughly $96 thousand, aimed at helping Valley veterans.
“Those 18 units will be filled in partnership with the city, the continuum of care, and the veterans affairs and different groups,” McGovern-Garcia said.
“Because those are targeting veterans who have experienced homelessness or housing insecurity.”
Abandoned homes will be removed and those lots will be offered to new residents.
“We’re hoping to offer a variety of funding solutions to meet the needs of people who want to live in the park,” McGovern-Garcia explained.
Self Help will also implement extensive community resources and security.
Cazares can’t wait to see these improvements, saying,”It’s just really exciting to see the changes that are being made and the actual effort being put into making this a community.”
Self Help tells Action News the new units will continue popping up through early next year.
New residents are expected to move in by May of 2026.
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