• Our Timeline

  • 1937

    President Roosevelt Creates Public Housing

    As part of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal, the Wagner-Steagall Housing Act created “public housing” and directed local public housing authorities to manage these developments.

  • 1940

    The City of Fresno Housing Authority Was Established

  • 1945

    Fresno County Creates Its Own Agency

    For a while, the two housing authorities used two different names. Now, although separate public agencies, they function with a single executive director and staff. Each agency has its own board of commissioners, but they meet together.

  • 1949

    Selling Slums

    Federal legislation established funding that enabled the clearance of what were considered “slums” – often through “urban renewal” – and sold that land to private developers for the purpose of improving communities, creating housing, and building local economies.

  • 1950’s

    Highrise Norm

    Public housing was rooted in a very idealistic view of supporting working families. In the earliest years, public housing was built on a small scale with many garden apartments financed through bonds with set tents to cover costs. In the 1950s highrise construction became the norm, although over time they were shown (in many communities) to be inappropriate for families with children.

  • 1968

    Anti-discrimination Legislation Passed

    Legislation passed to eliminate discrimination in housing.

  • 1969

    No More than 25% of Income

    Legislation ensured that no public housing resident would have to pay more than 25% of an individual’s income – making housing attainable and more affordable for low-income people.

  • 1973

    Section 8 of the Housing Act was enacted

    The goal of Section 8 legislation was to utilize the private market to create affordable housing by providing “certificates” to qualified households.

  • 1981

    Income Cap Raised to 30%

    Public housing resident’s income cap raised to 30%.

  • 1986

    Tax Credits for the Construction of Affordable Housing

    Further diversifying the means by which affordable housing would be created, the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program was created through the Tax Reform Act of 1986, giving tax credits to developers and businesses for the construction of affordable housing.

  • 1990

    Decentralized HUD

    The National Affordable Housing Act decentralized control of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), with the intention of giving greater freedom to local housing authorities.

  • 1992

    HOPE VI Program

    The HUD-sponsored HOPE VI Program authorized the demolition of “severely distressed” public housing complexes – allowing federal funds to be used to build “mixed-income” developments, often in conjunction with private developers. Fresno Housing received HOPE VI funds to develop rental housing and houses for first-time homebuyers (Sierra Pointe and Yosemite Village).

  • Late 90’s

    Focus on Self-Sufficiency

    A small number of housing authorities were designated “Move to Work” agencies – an attempt to provide greater opportunities to create and test locally designed strategies to increase efficiency, help residents find employment that could lead to self-sufficiency and increase housing choices for low-income families. (These agencies were given exemptions from many existing public housing and voucher rules and more flexibility in the use of federal funds.)

  • Late 90’s

    Neighborhood Transformation

    HUD instituted “Choice Neighborhoods,” which is intended to focus on the transformation, rehabilitation, and replacement of public housing and to transform neighborhoods of poverty into sustainable, mixed-income areas.

  • 2008

    Renews Focus on Affordable Housing Development

    2008 marked a major milestone in Fresno Housing’s evolution—transitioning from property management and administration to full-scale affordable housing development. The first development, Yosemite Village, paved the way for future projects like Parc Grove Commons, Avalon Commons, Manzanilla Commons, and Heritage Estates.

  • 2010’s

    Reforming Section 8, Housing Choice Voucher Program

    There have been attempts to reform the Housing Choice Voucher program (HCV, formerly Section 8) – first through a HUD initiative called Preservation, Enhancement, and Transformation of Rental Assistance (PETRA), then the Section 8 Voucher Reform Act (SEVRA), and most recently, the Section 8 Savings Act (SESA). SEVRA was designed to streamline the Housing Choice Voucher program and address a loss of vouchers that have taken place over the years, as well as facilitating moves between units for voucher holders. The most recent version of reform was called the Affordable Housing and Self-Sufficiency Improvement Act (AHSSIA) but died at the end of the 112th Congress, and no comprehensive reform has been enacted since.

  • 2012

    Using One Name: Fresno Housing

    The agency began to use a single name, Fresno Housing, to encompass all of its operations in both the city and county of Fresno. It was a small but important change and a step toward functioning more effectively and efficiently – increasing the organization’s ability to increase the availability of quality housing for low-income families, benefiting each and every person living in Fresno, not just those receiving assistance from the agency.

  • 2011

    First Permanent Supportive Housing Projects Completed

    Fresno Housing opened the Renaissance properties, offering long-term housing with onsite supportive services for individuals exiting homelessness. These developments reflect a creative and urgent response to the housing crisis—transforming former motels and underutilized sites through a combination of adaptive reuse and new construction. This innovative approach not only accelerated the availability of housing but also reimagined what permanent supportive housing can look like in both form and function.

  • 2013

    Launched Major Public Housing Transformation through RAD

    Fresno Housing began converting aging public housing units through the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program, a federal initiative allowing public housing authorities to leverage private investment to rehabilitate and preserve affordable housing. This shift marked a major step in modernizing the agency’s portfolio—improving housing quality, ensuring long-term affordability, and enhancing resident services across multiple communities.

  • 2015

    Fresno Housing celebrated 75 years of service to the community

    As Fresno Housing celebrated its 75th year of operation, it continues to follow the mission statement that guides the agency – Creating and sustaining vibrant communities throughout Fresno County.

  • 2024

    Restructuring and Re-Launch of Beyond Housing Foundation

    in 2024, Fresno Housing restructured an existing scholarship-focused foundation – Beyond Housing Foundation – into a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting resident empowerment, community engagement, and strategic fundraising aligned with Fresno Housing’s broader goals.

  • 2025

    Strategic Plan Implementation Begins

    Launched a new agency-wide strategic framework centered around four drivers: investing in neighborhoods, fighting housing insecurity, innovating voucher programs, and supporting resident goals. These priorities are supported by new operational goals for accessibility, customer service, and long-term financial sustainability.

  • 2025

    Fresno Housing Celebrates 85 Years of Impact

    Marking 85 years of service, Fresno Housing launched a year-long campaign to honor its legacy as Fresno County’s trusted provider of affordable housing. The milestone recognizes the agency’s transformation from housing administrator to premier affordable housing developer—serving more than 50,000 residents across 85+ properties. The celebration includes community stories, visual retrospectives, and a public recommitment to the agency’s vision: thriving, inclusive communities where everyone has access to safe, affordable, and sustainable housing.

Looking forward

Building the Future, Together

As we celebrate 85 years of service, Fresno Housing continues to lead with purpose—developing high-quality affordable housing, investing in historically overlooked neighborhoods, and empowering residents through opportunity and support.

Our vision goes beyond housing. We are creating vibrant, inclusive communities where families can grow, youth can thrive, and older adults can age with dignity. Through bold development projects, policy innovation, and deep partnerships, we’re focused on shaping a healthier Fresno County.

Across our properties and programs, we continue to prioritize thoughtful design, public art, sustainability, and community gathering spaces that foster connection and pride. And through our Resident Empowerment services, we’re expanding educational pathways, career opportunities, and homeownership support for those we serve.

With over 20 active development and construction projects in motion and a strategic plan that centers voice, and long-term stability, Fresno Housing remains committed to building a future where housing is the foundation—not the finish line.