National Community Renaissance
| Company type | Nonprofit organization |
|---|---|
| Industry | Affordable housing development and management |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Founder | Jeffrey Burum, Andrew B. Wright |
| Headquarters | Rancho Cucamonga, California , United States |
Area served | California, Florida, Texas |
Key people | Steve PonTell (CEO) |
| Products | Affordable multifamily, mixed-income, senior, workforce, and special needs residences |
Number of employees | 400 |
National Community Renaissance (National CORE) is a nonprofit organization in the United States that focuses on developing and managing affordable housing, including multifamily, mixed-income, senior, workforce, and special needs residences. Based in Rancho Cucamonga, California, National CORE operates across California, Florida, and Texas. It ranks among the nation’s largest nonprofit developers of affordable housing, overseeing more than 9,000 residential units in various stages of development, ownership, and management. Its affiliated entity, the Hope through Housing Foundation, delivers social programs such as early childhood education, senior health initiatives, violence prevention efforts, economic empowerment, and financial education.
Consistently positioned within the top 40 affordable housing owners nationwide, National CORE serves upwards of 27,000 family and senior residents and employs around 400 staff members. The organization manages assets valued at over $850 million.
History
Established in 1992 by homebuilders Jeffrey Burum and Andrew B. Wright under the name Southern California Housing to meet the demand for affordable residences, the organization expanded with the creation of National Housing in 1999. These two entities combined in 2006 to form what is now National Community Renaissance.
As an early leader in nonprofit housing development, National CORE completed Heritage Pointe in Rancho Cucamonga in 1996—recognized as the first affordable housing community entirely built by a nonprofit entity in the United States.
In 2012, Steve PonTell, founder of the La Jolla Institute and a noted authority on housing affordability issues, was named CEO. PonTell regularly contributes to prominent outlets such as the Orange County Register and Southern California News Group, bolstering the company’s presence in the industry.
National CORE spearheads major community redevelopment initiatives including the Arrowhead Grove Neighborhood Revitalization project in San Bernardino—a multimillion-dollar effort transforming over 400 housing units within a distressed neighborhood—and collaborates on Mission Cove in San Diego County, which provides 288 affordable homes in one of the country’s highest-cost regions.
Hope through Housing Foundation
Formed as an independent 501(c)(3) organization in 1998, the Hope through Housing Foundation supports residents and communities by delivering services and securing funding. Since its founding, it has provided more than two million hours of supportive care. Headquartered in Rancho Cucamonga, California, Gregory Bradbard currently serves as its President.
Awards
National CORE has received numerous industry honors for its affordable housing developments. In 2016, it was awarded the Supportive Housing Project of the Year by the Southern California Association of Nonprofit Housing for Marv's Place located in Pasadena, California, which offers shelter to formerly homeless individuals and families.
The Dumosa Senior Village in Yucca Valley, California earned recognition in 2015 as one of the Best 50-plus Senior Independent Living Communities by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Additional NAHB accolades include Best Workforce Housing Community (2013) for Alta Vista Apartments in East Los Angeles; Best Creative Financing Awards (2010 and 2012) for Encanto Court and San Marino Senior Apartments; and Best Green Building Concepts (2011) for Vista Dunes Courtyard Homes situated in La Quinta.
Further commendations have been bestowed by organizations such as the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, the National League of Cities, the Urban Land Institute, and Multi-Housing News. In 2016, Marv's Place, Vista Dunes, and Phase One of Arrowhead Grove (Valencia Vista) all achieved Platinum LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.