New affordable housing has opened in the rural Fresno County community of Huron. Corazón del Valle Commons provides 60 affordable homes for low-income residents, with a focus on providing housing stability to agricultural workers and their families.

“This is big step to help rural, hardworking farm worker families in communities like Huron,” said California State Senator Anna Caballero at the recent grand opening ceremony. “The choice between paying rent and buying food to feed your family is an unconscionable one to ask people to have to make.”

A project of Fresno Housing supported by more than $18 million from HCD’s Multifamily Housing Program and Home Investment Partnerships Program, Corazón del Valle will provide homes for individuals and families earning 30-60% of the Area Median Income.

“This marks an incredible celebration of building housing and building a place where lives will be changed,” said Tyrone Roderick Williams, CEO of Fresno Housing. “In our rural communities across Fresno County, one of the things we are constantly being challenged with is how do we provide safe, decent, and affordable housing for those who are farmworkers. This presents an opportunity for those here in Huron who are involved in the agricultural industry to have access to affordable housing.”

Bertha Fuentes, a resident of Corazón del Valle was handed a ceremonial key and spoke briefly at the grand opening ceremony.

“Thank you for the opportunity. (Having housing) does help us a lot. It is a great help that a lot of residents need. I am really grateful, grateful, grateful,” said Fuentes.

Corazón del Valle is a mixed-use development with commercial and civic space. The complex has a community building and laundry facilities, and outdoor amenities include a barbeque area, a children play area, a half-basketball court, and a community garden. The complex is also climate friendly with sustainable energy solutions including solar paneling.