Tag: Riverside

JUST IN: Riverside City Council Rejects University Terrace Homes Proposal

On January 13, the Riverside City Council voted 4–3 to reject the proposed University Terrace Homes project, turning down a large-scale housing initiative aimed at addressing homelessness in the city.

The no vote was led by Councilmembers Philip Falcone, Steven Robillard, Chuck Condor, and Sean Mill.

The plan would have used state Homekey+ funding to convert the 114-room Quality Inn at 1590 University Avenue into 114 studio homes—94 permanent supportive housing units for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness, along with 20 affordable housing units.

Voting in favor were Councilmembers Clarissa Cervantes, Jim Perry, and Mayor Pro Tem Steve Hemenway, who argued that Riverside cannot afford to pass on a rare, ready-to-go housing opportunity of this scale.

The project carried a $29.7 million total price tag, including a $20.137 million state grant and approximately $9.5 million in already-allocated local housing funds. With the vote, that funding is now effectively left unused—despite a homelessness crisis that continues to grow more urgent across the city.

As Riverside residents grapple with rising housing insecurity, the decision raises tough questions about how—and how quickly—the city is willing to act when substantial outside funding is on the table.

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Inland SoCal United Way will give out cash payments to pregnant persons and former foster youth

Inland SoCal United Way launched a highly anticipated guaranteed income pilot for Riverside and San Bernardino counties on Jan. 25.

The organization will provide unconditional cash payments of $600 per month for 18 months to 500 pregnant individuals and $750 per month to 120 former foster youth.

The pilot uses a randomized controlled trial and will also have a control group that does not receive payments but will receive an incentive to help compare results in the statewide and local evaluations, bringing the total number of participants to 1,240. All participants will receive support with resources and financial stability.

The recipients have not yet been selected. Former foster youth turning 21 during the application period who live in Fontana would be eligible to apply.

“Today, we take a bold step toward a more equitable future for Inland Region residents,” said United Way CEO, Kimberly Starrs. “The launch of our Guaranteed Income Pilot embodies our commitment to eradicating the barriers that hinder the pursuit of dreams. With the support of our board, funders, and partners, we are sowing seeds of change that will grow into a harvest of empowerment for generations to come.”

First announced in November 2022 with the California Department of Social Services award of $5 million, Inland SoCal United Way’s pilot leverages $10 million total in diversified funds to disrupt inequity and test the new solution. Other funding support includes Riverside County’s Children and Families Commission, the Guaranteed Income Pooled Fund, the James Irvine Foundation, US Bank, and private donors.

Inland SoCal United Way is the largest of seven sites in California’s first-ever state-funded guaranteed income pilot program.

“A child’s health and future success begins in the prenatal stage, and it is crucial that we support parents from the very start. This pilot program focuses on an evidenced, informed, yet innovative approach to creating meaningful change in the lives of Riverside County children and families. Supplemental income for new parents supports a strong foundation for a healthy infancy, childhood, and adulthood,” said First 5 Riverside County Commission Chair Zachary Ginder, PsyD.

“As state-funded guaranteed income pilots launch across the state, we look forward to the opportunity to assess the impact of economic interventions during key life transitions,” said California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Director Kim Johnson. “We are excited to partner with Inland Southern California United Way, who will serve pregnant individuals and former foster youth.”

Inland SoCal United Way serves 1 million people in Riverside, San Bernardino, and east Los Angeles counties. Established in 1931, Inland SoCal United Way in the last two decades has focused on providing direct services to disrupt cycles of inequity. Their team of more than 150 employees operates 40 programs to improve health, housing, education, and financial stability.

For more information, visit https://inlandsocaluw.org/guaranteed-income

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