RIVERSIDE, CA— Community members and housing advocates urged the Riverside City Council yesterday to reverse its rejection of the proposed Quality Inn affordable and supportive housing project, calling on city leaders to approve the 114-unit development just three days before a state civil rights mediation over the City’s decision.

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The mediation, scheduled for August 14, stems from a complaint filed by the ACLU Foundation of Southern California alleging the City unlawfully rejected a $20.1 million state HomeKey+ grant that would have funded 114 units of permanent affordable and supportive housing for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, including people with disabilities. The complaint alleges the City’s actions violated California civil rights law by blocking critically needed affordable housing for some of Riverside’s most vulnerable residents.

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During public comment, speakers urged the City to comply with its legal obligations by reversing course and approving the project before Friday’s mediation. The testimony reflected growing frustration from Riverside residents who said the City continues to fall short of meeting the community’s affordable housing needs.

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"I have a permanent disability and am under active treatment for it. Despite that, I work part-time. Sleeping in a car aggravates my disability. Having a supportive, affordable  home like in University Terrace would make a tremendous difference in allowing me to stabilize my health and get back on my feet,” said Jessica S. Lane Johnson, a Riverside Tenant Union member.

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Video of Jessica’s testimony is available at the start of this short video clip. Additional photos and videos captured by advocates and community members, are available here for general media use.

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"Today, we are here to advocate for the lives of 94 of our most vulnerable, disabled Riverside residents who find themselves living in our streets or temporary shelters. All of them have asked for and are seeking housing so that they can get out of the dangerously hot heat this time of year. We have an opportunity to house them in a safe, secure apartment with a caring and supportive community to stabilize and rebuild their lives. We know this approach works. Their lives are dependent on your decision,” said Dan Hoxworth, Chair, Affordable Housing Organizing Network of Riverside. 

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The complainants–ACLU of Southern California, Inland Equity Community Land Trust, and Inland Empire Tenants Union—are scheduled to participate in confidential mediation facilitated by the California Civil Rights Department on Friday, August 14. Any resulting settlement agreement would be public.

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Riverside, like communities across the state, faces a severe shortage of affordable housing. Despite this need, Riverside has issued permits for only 4% of the low- and very low-income housing required under its Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA). During the current Housing Element cycle (2021–2029), the City is responsible for planning for 3,064 low-income and 4,861 very low-income housing units. Advocates emphasize that access to stable housing is directly tied to health and survival. Last year alone, 140 people died while unhoused in Riverside County.

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Coalition partners said the City still has an opportunity to comply with its legal obligations and reverse course.

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“The City is in clear violation of the law because it rejected this funding for discriminatory reasons and is woefully behind on its affordable housing goals,” said Kath Rogers, senior staff attorney of ACLU SoCal. “We want to see the City repair the harm it has done to the community by not only approving the Quality Inn Project, but also by meeting its legal obligations to build affordable housing with dramatic increases in investments in these types of projects.” 

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“This denial of affordable housing in our community is a life or death issue, especially in the summer heat. The City can still make this right by approving the Quality Inn Project and working to ensure that we all have a safe place to call home,” said Maribel Nunez of the Inland Equity Community Land Trust, a community land trust that develops and stewards affordable housing and other community assets in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

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“This advocacy seeks to ensure that the City refrains from discriminatory actions that impede the development of affordable and supportive housing projects in the City. Every community has a responsibility to ensure equitable access to housing—not to erect barriers that exclude its most vulnerable residents from safe and stable homes,“ said Ugochi Anaebere-Nicholson, Staff Attorney with The Public Interest Law Project, a California-based qualified legal services support center that supports California’s qualified legal services programs and advances racial and economic justice through litigation, advocacy, and training.  

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“Projects like this can be a lifeline for people in need. They reduce homelessness, strengthen communities, and give seniors, veterans, and families a stable foundation to thrive. Our communities deserve answers to the affordable housing crisis, and we have seen these types of projects make a real impact,” said Veronica J. Garcia, Esq., Housing Practice Group Director at Inland Counties Legal Services, an organization that provides free civil legal assistance on housing matters in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.  

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The proposed development would have created 114 units of permanent affordable and supportive housing in a high-resource neighborhood near transit, healthcare, businesses, and other community resources. The complaint alleges the City Council’s January vote violated California civil rights law by blocking the project and disproportionately harming people with disabilities.

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Read the complaint served by the California Civil Rights Department.

Read the complaint filed by the ACLU Foundation of Southern California.

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Media Contacts

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ACLU Foundation of Southern California

Communications & Media Advocacy

communications@aclusocal.org | 213-977-5252

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The Public Interest Law Project

Ugochi Anaebere-Nicholson

uanaebere-nicholson@pilpca.org | (323) 270-3281

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Inland Counties Legal Services

Veronica J. Garcia

vgarcia@icls.org | (951) 368-2572

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Affordable Housing Organizing Network

Dan H. Hoxworth

dhhoxworth@gmail.com | (802) 505-8392

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Inland Equity Community Land Trust

Maribel Nunez

maribel@inlandequityclt.org | (562) 569-4051

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