Through a no-interest loan program, the Trust has helped more
than 100 South County families buy their first home
Gilroy – A new report calls the Housing Trust of Santa Clara County one of the best organizations in the country helping to build housing for working families.
The report, by Homes for Working Families, calls the Housing Trust one of 15 nationwide “success stories” and a model of exploiting public resources to attract private investment.
“This research is our first step in illustrating solutions and principles for communities seeking to provide homes within the reach of working families,” said Beverly Barnes, of Homes for Working Families. “These examples can help guide others looking to change policies, practices, and programs that affect the availability of affordable homes.”
In recent years, the Housing Trust has invested more than $2 million in South County housing projects, including the Sobrato Transitional Apartments in Gilroy and Murphy Ranch in Morgan Hill. Through a no-interest closing cost loan program, the Housing Trust has helped about 100 South County families buy their first home.
“We are pleased and honored to be noted by Homes for Working Families, but our real measure of success is in the level of local support we receive,” Housing Trust executive director Taylor Dial said. “Our local governments and private investors continue to see the Housing Trust as a great opportunity to leverage their dollars and create affordable housing for families in our high-cost region.”
Santa Clara County Supervisor Don Gage, who is chairman of the Housing Trust board of directors, attributed the organization’s success to the combined efforts of local governments and the region’s business community.
“We’re happy to serve as a model for others across America who seek to help families afford a place to call home,” Gage said.
