News and Views

Lewis Welcomes Housing and Urban Development Secretary to Redlands Boys and Girls Club, Senior Housing

SAN BERNARDINO – Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Steve Preston will join Congressman Jerry Lewis Friday, August 15 for a visit to the Redlands Boys and Girls Club and a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Vista del Sol affordable senior housing project in Redlands , Lewis said Friday.

Both the Boys and Girls Club and the senior housing project have received significant funding through the Neighborhood Initiative, a program created by legislation sponsored by Congressman Lewis in 1997 and initially funded with $15 million from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. San Bernardino County and the cities of Redlands , Highland and San Bernardino used the Neighborhood Initiative program to improve hundreds of repossessed homes and sell them to first-time low-income home buyers. Proceeds from those sales have in turn funded many neighborhood improvements like the Boys and Girls Club and the senior housing project.

“Our county and cities have provided a guide on how a relatively small federal investment can be used to bring new life to boarded-up homes and distressed neighborhoods – a guide that may be vital as we seek ways to help our communities recover from the current housing crisis,” Lewis said. “I am delighted that Secretary Preston can take time from his busy schedule to see an example of what we can accomplish when federal, state and local folks apply some imagination to a problem.”

Lewis said he will also be delighted to welcome back former Redlands City Councilwoman Susan Peppler, who was sworn in last month as HUD Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. Peppler will be attending her first official Inland Empire event in her new capacity.

“Coming from Redlands and the Inland Empire , Susan Peppler has a unique perspective on the needs of rapidly growing areas and how local governments can team with state and federal officials to meet those needs,” Lewis said. “There is no doubt she will be a valuable resource for Secretary Preston and HUD.”

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