WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, announced today that NeighborWorks America awarded South County Housing, a nonprofit community development corporation and member of the national NeighborWorks network, $215,500 in grants. The funds will be invested in Soledad to upgrade the Camphora site and provide affordable housing for farm workers and their families.

“This grant is essential to the renovation of the Camphora site to provide needed safety improvements and affordable housing for Soledad families,” said Rep. Farr. “South County Housing has done a tremendous job over the past 30 years building and managing affordable housing for communities throughout the Central Coast.”

South County Housing purchased the Camphora site in partnership with Monterey County for $1.5 million in 2010, in an effort to renovate the site. The site was originally built in the 1960s to provide housing for male farm workers. The grant will be used to renovate 44 Camphora units and build a new community center to provide recreation, storage, and a computer lab. The project will also connect Camphora with Soledad’s sewer service, replacing a failing septic system.

“NeighborWorks support has been a key part in our ability to successfully create affordable housing opportunities for residents throughout the district,” said Dennis Lalor, President of South County Housing.  “We are grateful to NeighborWorks for this award, and thank Congressman Farr for his support of this very effective program.”

NeighborWorks America was founded by Congress in 1978 to provide grants to support local NeighborWorks member organizations like South County Housing, in their efforts to revitalize communities and promote and preserve affordable housing for residents in member communities. In 2013, NeighborWorks and its members assisted more than 300,000 families through the purchase, renovation, and management of units as well as creating 21,000 homeowners and other assistance.

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