Lake Forest City OKs Affordable Housing Agreement With Families Forward

LAKE FOREST, CA — Lake Forest City Councilmembers agreed to enter into an exclusive agreement with nonprofit organization Families Forward to develop affordable housing for Lake Forest families at risk of homelessness during their Tuesday night meeting.

The unanimous approval comes after the City Council was made aware of a roughly $1.6 million in available funds marked for the acquisition and conversion of affordable housing projects in the City of Lake Forest.

Families Forward was awarded the agreement during Tuesday's meeting, beating out alternative firms Habitat for Humanity and USA Properties.

The Orange County nonprofit began serving the region in 1984 with a mission to address and end family homelessness by giving residents access to housing and resources that create lasting stability, a city staff report said.

This wouldn't be the first time the city has partnered with Families Forward to create more affordable housing. According to the city staff report, Families Forward acquired the property off Saguaro Street in 2015 with help from public, private and nonprofit partners.

The property was heavily rehabilitated and is now used as affordable housing, the city said.

As a part of the new agreement, Families Forward will leverage city funds with funds from the organization — as well as funds from potential third-party investors — to purchase a four- to eight-unit complex to be converted into affordable housing.

"[Families Forward] took a run-down, beat-up four-flex and made it beautiful and improved the neighborhood in doing so," Lake Forest Councilmember Scott Voigts said during the meeting. "I love the fact that [Families Forward] takes pride in the homes and make sure the residents keep the units nice."