header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
March 10
2012 - John Hobbs, Hart Class of 1968, inducted into Country Music Hall of Fame [story]
John Hobbs


Courtesy of The Signal, signalscv.com
| Thursday, Nov 4, 2021
Groundbreaking
Officials partake in a ceremonial groundbreaking at the site of a new Family Promise resource center Monday. November 01, 2021. Bobby Block / The Signal.

 

With shovels full of dirt, Family Promise of Santa Clarita Valley and its community partners began building hope and dreams in Newhall on Monday.

“We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing emergency shelter and support services for local families experiencing homelessness,” said Laurie Ender, past board president of the nonprofit. “About six years ago, four years into our operation, it became clear that the biggest gap in our programming … was housing, specifically bridge or transitional housing.”

On Monday, the nonprofit and community leaders gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of Building Hope: Our Family Promise, a new transitional house that signals the closing of those gaps.

“Every time that you drive past this, you will see that another piece of hope and dreams is being built here in Santa Clarita,” said Executive Director Roché Vermaak. “We don’t want to just address homelessness — we want to solve family homelessness.”

Rev. Dr. Roche Vermaak, Family Promise SCV Executive Director

Rev. Dr. Roche Vermaak, Family Promise of SCV Executive Director, speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the organization’s new resource center Monday. November 01, 2021. Bobby Block / The Signal.

Kathryn Barger

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors member Katheryn Barger speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the organization’s new resource center Monday. November 01, 2021. Bobby Block / The Signal.

Approved by the Santa Clarita Planning Commission in June, the project is set to comprise four 815-square-foot affordable housing units for low-income and homeless families with children, along with an emergency overnight unit, and a dedicated 2,700-square-foot resource center on land donated by the city of Santa Clarita.

Family Promise has partnered with the city of Santa Clarita, Williams Homes and HomeAid Los Angeles for the project, giving families the opportunity to stay housed for three to nine months while they save money to secure permanent housing.

Local Spiritual Leaders at Groundbreaking

Local spiritual leaders join Rev. Dr. Roche Vermaak, Family Promise of SCV Executive Director, at the groundbreaking ceremony for the organization’s new resource center Monday. November 01, 2021. Bobby Block / The Signal.

Assemblywoman Suzette Valladares

Assemblywoman Suzette Valladares presents a certificate of recognition at the groundbreaking ceremony for Family Promise’s new resource center Monday. November 01, 2021. Bobby Block / The Signal.

The program’s resource center is also set to help families with systemic issues, such as unhealthy eating, not only providing them with groceries and meals, but also teaching them how to cook and eat healthy, as well as sufficient office space to allow for a place where both children and parents can come and work with consistent WiFi and volunteers to help tutor.

“It is one valley and one vision, and the vision is that no family, no individual, should languish on the streets,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, whose 5th District includes the SCV. “So, what Family Promise is doing is taking us one step toward addressing this crisis, not only in L.A. County but across this nation.”

Barger also noted that Family Promise’s work is not waiting for this building to be completed, as “each and every day you are making a difference in the lives of so many.”

Bill Miranda

City of Santa Clarita Mayor Bill Miranda speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the organization’s new resource center Monday. November 01, 2021. Bobby Block / The Signal.

Assemblywoman Suzette Valladares Speaking

Assemblywoman Suzette Valladares speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony for Family Promise’s new resource center Monday. November 01, 2021. Bobby Block / The Signal.

While a portion of the building costs are expected to be donated by Williams Homes and the building community, the organization needs to raise an additional $2.6 million to complete the project.

Family Promise is calling on the community, businesses and congregations to help them raise the capital and help provide a lasting solution for homeless families in the SCV.

Building Hope: Our Family Promise, located at 23652 Newhall Ave., is expected to be completed in early 2023. For more information on Family Promise, visit familypromisescv.org, email contact@familypromisescv.org or call (661) 251-2867.

Laurie Ender

Laurie Ender, former Family Promise of SCV Board President, speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the organization’s new resource center Monday. November 01, 2021. Bobby Block / The Signal.

Lance OKeefe

Lance O’Keefe, Family Promise of SCV Board President, speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the organization’s new resource center Monday. November 01, 2021. Bobby Block / The Signal.

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Monday, Mar 10, 2025
March 24: Valencia High School to Host Hart Games
The Hart Games will be held 10 a.m.- 1 p.m., Monday, March 24, at Valencia High School, Valencia High School Stadium, 27801 North Dickason Drive, Valencia, CA 91355.
Monday, Mar 10, 2025
March 10-15: Nine Productions Filming in SCV
The city of Santa Clarita Film Office has released the list of nine productions filming in the Santa Clarita Valley for the week of Monday, March 10 to Saturday, March 15.
Monday, Mar 10, 2025
Valladares Introduces Bill to Expand Health Access for Cancer Patients
Senator Suzette Valladares (R-Santa Clarita) has announced the introduction of Senate Bill 508, which would expand access to life-saving cancer care by allowing cancer patients in California to consult with out-of-state physicians through telehealth platforms.
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees will hold a business meeting Wednesday, March 12, beginning at 5 p.m. The board will first meet in closed session at 3 p.m.
March 12: COC Board of Trustees Business Meeting
The Hart Games will be held 10 a.m.- 1 p.m., Monday, March 24, at Valencia High School, Valencia High School Stadium, 27801 North Dickason Drive, Valencia, CA 91355.
March 24: Valencia High School to Host Hart Games
The city of Santa Clarita Film Office has released the list of nine productions filming in the Santa Clarita Valley for the week of Monday, March 10 to Saturday, March 15.
March 10-15: Nine Productions Filming in SCV
College of the Canyons men's golf placed second at the Western State Conference tournament played at Santa Maria Country Club on Monday, March 3.
Cougars Runner-up at Santa Maria Country Club
College of the Canyons hosted the Western State Conference South meet at Cougar Stadium on Feb. 28, with the Cougars men's and women's teams both securing second place finishes.
Cougar Track Teams Both Take Second at WSC South
Senator Suzette Valladares (R-Santa Clarita) has announced the introduction of Senate Bill 508, which would expand access to life-saving cancer care by allowing cancer patients in California to consult with out-of-state physicians through telehealth platforms.
Valladares Introduces Bill to Expand Health Access for Cancer Patients
Valley Trails Summer Camp, a premier summer camp in Santa Clarita, invites families to a special Open House on Sunday, March 16, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
March 16: Valley Trails Summer Camp Open House
On Saturday, March 22, College of the Canyons will hold Discover Day, an event that will give new and potential students the opportunity to explore program offerings and opportunities.
March 22: COC To Hold Discover Day
Placerita Canyon Nature Center Associates and Field Mycologist Bat Vardeh, founder of Women Forage SoCal, will present a Mushroom Foray and Talk, 2 p.m. Sunday, March 16 at Placerita Canyon Nature Center, 19152 Placerita Canyon Road, Newhall, CA 91321.
March 16: Placerita Canyon Nature Center Mushroom Foray, Talk
Among several important issues presented at its Tuesday, March 11 regular board meeting, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will hear a review on emergency actions ordered and taken to respond to and recover from the January 2025 windstorms and fires.
March 11: Supes to Hear Review on Fire Emergency Actions
The Castaic Union School District will hold its regular board meeting Thursday, March 13 at the District Office, located at 28131 Livingston Ave., Valencia, CA 91355. A closed session will begin at 5 p.m., followed by an open session at 6 p.m., where there will be a report of closed session action.
March 13: Regular Meeting of the CUSD Governing Board
2012 - John Hobbs, Hart Class of 1968, inducted into Country Music Hall of Fame [story]
John Hobbs
1842 - Francisco Lopez makes California's first documented gold discovery in Placerita Canyon [story]
Lopez
1913 - Castaic Range War: Chromicle ally Billy Rose shoots, wounds landowner William W. Jenkins [story]
Bill Jenkins
The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Santa Clarita Valley invites the community to indulge in a delicious way to support the fight against cancer with its spring-themed See’s Candies fundraiser.
ACS Relay for Life SCV Spring See’s Candies Fundraiser
The Santa Clarita Valley Man and Woman of the Year Committee has released the names of the 12 nominees and the nomination organizations for 2025 Santa Clarita Man of the Year.
Santa Clarita Valley 2025 Men of the Year Nominees
The Santa Clarita Valley Man and Woman of the Year Committee has released the names of the 21 nominees and the nomination organizations for 2025 Santa Clarita Woman of the Year.
Santa Clarita Valley 2025 Woman of the Year Nominees
The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station has rescheduled the March 12 Coffee with a Cop in Canyon Country to the new date of Wednesday, March 19.
March 19: Coffee With a Cop in Canyon Country
The Santa Clarita City Council will meet in open session on Tuesday, March 11 at City Hall to consider a number of agenda items, including awarding a contract for an environmental impact report for the Belcaro at Sand Canyon Project.
March 11: City Council to Discuss Belcaro at Sand Canyon Project
The city of Santa Clarita will offer a free Mountain Bike Demo Day at the Bike Park of Santa Clarita on Saturday, March 8, 10 a.m.-noon.
March 8: Mountain Bike Demo Day at Bike Park of Santa Clarita
The city of Santa Clarita has been awarded a $1.4 million Measure A competitive grant from the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District, securing vital funding to expand and protect open space in the Santa Clarita Valley. Santa Clarita was among just 13 projects selected for funding.
Santa Clarita Awarded $1.4M Measure A Grant to Expand Open Space
The Santa Clarita Valley Include Everyone Project will offer a dining fundraiser on International Women's Day Sunday, March 8, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. at Apolo Greek Grill, 28263 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia, CA 91355.
March 8: Include Everyone Project Dining Fundraiser
Santa Clarita Valley nonprofit Fostering Youth Independence is celebrating its eighth year with the theme of “GR8TFULNESS,” acknowledging the many volunteers, donors and community partners who have supported the organization since its founding in 2017. On March 11 a training session will be held for anyone interested in learning more about what being an FYI Ally entails.
March 11: Fostering Youth Independence ‘Ally’ Training
SCVNews.com