Family Promise of Greater Phoenix, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization seeking to break the cycle of homelessness for families, announces the completion of Legacy Village, a new step-up housing community constructed from repurposed ocean containers.
Founded in Glendale, Legacy Village offers a unique and scalable solution to the crisis of family homelessness, providing fully furnished apartments designed specifically for families that have experienced homelessness, representatives of the effort tell the Digital Free Press.
Legacy Village features six repurposed 640-square-foot ocean containers transformed into fully furnished small apartments, according to a press release.
The development is designed around a central courtyard to foster a sense of community and security among residents. Additional amenities include a playground, a sports court, and a tree-based landscape plan. Each unit is equipped with energy-efficient features, including solar power, LED lighting, and high-efficiency HVAC systems, ensuring a sustainable living environment for families, the release states.
“Legacy Village is a transformative step in our mission to shelter families and provide the foundation for long-term stability,” said Ted Taylor, executive director of Family Promise of Greater Phoenix. “This innovative community offers a unique, replicable model that addresses the urgent need for affordable housing and offers families a chance to rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.”
Iglesias Dios de Segunda Oportunidad welcomed the first Village to be built on their property.
Legacy Village occupies less than one quarter of an acre of land with shared parking located at the adjoining facility. The first Village was designed so that it could be replicated across other similar properties around the Valley. Family Promise plans to expand its impact by developing additional Villages on other properties in the coming years.
“Opening our very first Family Promise Village in Glendale is a truly exciting milestone for our 25 year old organization,” said Tim McGough, chair of the Board of Directors of Family Promise of Greater Phoenix. “For the first time, we will be able to offer affordable transitional housing to our clients who worked so hard to graduate from our program. We are extremely grateful to the City of Glendale for collaborating with us over the past several years to make this dream a reality for our client families.”
With only 22 rental units available per 100 extremely low-income families, Legacy Village offers a cost-effective and energy-efficient alternative. The project is a collaborative effort supported by partners including BHHS Legacy Foundation, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Garcia Family Foundation, Fiesta Bowl, The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, SRP, and the Arizona Housing Fund.
“BHHS Legacy Foundation is proud to support Legacy Village, providing a safe, stable place for homeless families to rebuild their lives,” said Gerald Wissink, CEO of BHHS Legacy Foundation. “As a lead funder, we’ve worked closely with Ted Taylor and the Family Promise team to help bring this vision to life, and we’re so glad that it is finally a reality. The Legacy Foundation board and staff believe our contribution to this new, supportive housing community will make a lasting difference and help address homelessness in the Valley.”