[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 99 (Tuesday, July 8, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1420]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


          HONORING THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF EDEN HOUSING, INC.

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 8, 2003

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Eden Housing, Inc. of 
Hayward, California on the occasion of its thirty-fifth anniversary. 
Eden Housing, Inc. was founded in 1968 by a group of dedicated 
individuals who were concerned about the lack of affordable housing in 
Alameda County. The original board members developed Eden's first 
affordable development, the 150-unit Josephine Lum Lodge for seniors in 
Hayward, California.
  Since starting its first project nearly 35 years ago, Eden Housing 
has created 4,200 units of affordable housing for low income families, 
seniors and persons with disabilities, and has become one of the most 
active non-profit affordable housing developers in California. As it 
has grown, the organization has expanded its development activities 
into six Northern California counties. From its small but ambitious 
beginning, Eden, and its two major affiliates, Eden Housing Management, 
Inc. and nonprofit Eden Housing Resident Services, Inc. now employ a 
combined professional staff of 120 employees. The organization is 
guided by an eleven member volunteer board of directors from a wide 
spectrum of professional fields.
  In addition to meeting the needs for affordable shelter, Eden Housing 
is committed to helping its residents improve their lives through free 
onsite supportive services and programs provided by Eden's nonprofit 
affiliate, Eden Housing Resident Services, Inc. These services include 
children's summer and after-school programs, scholarships for deserving 
adults, senior health and fitness programs, onsite service 
coordination, and computer learning programs where children learn 
skills to help them succeed in school, and adults acquire skills to 
help them compete for better employment opportunities.
  Throughout its history, Eden Housing has made it a priority to mentor 
and partner with smaller non-profit organizations to build their 
capacity while providing housing to serve special populations or 
geographic communities. Included in Eden's collaborations are a 100-
unit senior apartment complex, developed with East Bay Issei, a 
coalition of Japanese American groups concerned with creating housing 
for their senior constituents; multiple partnerships with Community 
Resources for Independent Living and the Mentally Handicapped 
Children's Organization to create developments for persons with 
disabilities; and a collaboration with East Bay Habitat for Humanity to 
build homes in Fremont for first-time buyers.
  In its thirty-fifth year, Eden Housing is celebrating the future, as 
well as the past. Eden Housing, Inc. is breaking ground on new 
developments and opening others. The organization is conducting 
feasibility studies for additional units and continues to search out 
new opportunities, all of which support Eden Housing's commitment to 
provide affordable housing in Northern California well into the future.
  Congratulations Eden Housing, Inc. I applaud your dedication and 
exemplary contributions.

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