About Century Villages at Cabrillo

Century Villages at Cabrillo (CVC) is a 27-acre supportive housing community in Long Beach, home to over 1,500 residents, including Veterans, families, and individuals with special needs. CVC offers both permanent and transitional housing, complemented by a network of services and amenities provided by a range of collaborators.

Established in 1997, CVC transformed a former Naval housing base near the Port of Long Beach into a thriving community. By bringing together service providers, many of whom operate directly on-site, CVC leverages a collective impact approach to break the cycle of homelessness for its residents. (Collective impact is a framework where organizations from different sectors work together towards a common goal.) As the backbone organization, CVC serves as the steward, manager, and coordinator of the Villages community.

CVC is a nonprofit affiliate of Century Housing, a group dedicated to financing, developing, and managing quality affordable housing across California.

A Place to Call Home

Century Villages at Cabrillo offers diverse housing options and supportive services. Residents have access to permanent and transitional housing tailored for Veterans, families, and individuals with special needs, many of whom have experienced homelessness. The campus features community gardens, fitness centers, and programs for all ages, including yoga, cooking classes, and youth camps. CVC’s collaborative network of on-site service providers ensures comprehensive support, fostering a vibrant, engaged community that empowers residents to achieve greater independence and self-sufficiency.

CVC map preview image.

Supportive Services

Century Oasis Residential Services provides on-site support for residents in collaboration with partner agencies. Our integrated approach to voluntary services helps residents maintain housing stability, improve health, increase financial stability, advance skills and education, and engage in meaningful activities.

Oasis Residential Services logo.

Resident Engagement Opportunities

We actively involve residents in our community development efforts, ensuring they have a voice in decision-making for the Villages. Through community meetings and leadership opportunities, we foster resident engagement and participation. Additionally, we regularly organize events, including after-school activities and holiday festivals, to enhance residents’ lives and strengthen our community.

Reliable Property Management

Our on-site property management team ensures that CVC residents have a safe, clean, and beautiful environment to call home. By providing security and maintaining high-quality surroundings, we enhance residents’ quality of life and offer the stability they need to pursue their goals. Our team is trained to address residents’ specific needs, fostering a community they are proud to live in.

CVC management team.

Villages at Cabrillo Collaborative

Century convenes the Villages at Cabrillo Collaborative (VACC), a group of 11 on-site partners and numerous off-site partners that serve as a leadership advisory body for the entire community. Partners include:

History of the Villages

The roots of CVC and our community lie with the Tongva people, the original inhabitants of this land who had villages in present-day Long Beach. CVC strives to honor this legacy of community-building, fostering a sense of belonging for all residents.

  • 1991

    1

    Naval Station Targeted for Closure

    Base Realignment and Closure Commission of the U.S. Department of Defense closes 28 military bases, including the Long Beach Naval Station.

  • 1995

    A Vision Develops

    Long Beach Shipyards and their adjunct facilities, such as Savannah Housing Complex (now the Villages at Cabrillo), are conveyed to the City of Long Beach. Local community and city officials develop a vision for a new community, with Century Housing emerging as the nonprofit to continue financing the development of affordable housing for low- and moderate-income individuals.

    2

    1995

  • 1997

    3

    New Collaborators

    City officials and nonprofit organizations form a collaboration to advocate for a community benefitting the homeless population in Long Beach. Century Housing invests more than $13 million, the Villages at Cabrillo property is conveyed to CVC, and new collaborators join.

  • 1998

    Coming Together

    LA VETS convenes monthly service provider meetings to craft a common vision and ensure cooperation in the funding process. This group becomes known as Villages at Cabrillo Collaborative (VACC).

    4

    1998

  • 1999–2000

    5

    The Villages Opens

    The Villages becomes fully operational, with on-site partners forming a continuum of care for homeless veterans and families. Affordable housing development Long Beach Savannah Housing, an adaptive reuse of the former naval housing stock, is completed.

  • 2004

    Casa de Cabrillo Opens

    Casa de Cabrillo opens, providing independent living accommodations to 200 formerly homeless veterans, doubling the number of veterans served.

    6

    2004

  • 2007

    7

    Oasis Community Center Opens

    Oasis Community Center opens as an on-site resource center offering drop-in services to adults and children living at CVC.

  • 2008

    Family Commons Opens

    Family Commons at Cabrillo, with PATH as the service provider, offers 80 homes for families.

    8

    2008

  • 2012

    9

    Elizabeth Ann Seton Residence Expands

    Catholic Charities’ Elizabeth Ann Seton Residence emergency shelter for families expands to meet the needs of a growing population.

  • 2015

    Cabrillo Gateway Opens

    Cabrillo Gateway provides 80 permanent supportive homes for families.

    10

    2015

  • 2017

    11

    Anchor Place Opens

    Anchor Place offers dignified, service-enriched homes to 120 households, including Veterans and families.

  • 2024

    The Cove Opens

    The Cove houses previously homeless veterans and very low-income individuals in 90 studio apartments, featuring community and classroom spaces, a gym, and multiple case management offices.

    12

    2024

  • 13

    The Future

    The Villages will always be a place of creation, where life begins anew, as the Tongva believe. CVC will continue to expand and grow, working with its partners to end homelessness and creating new opportunities for transformation in the lives of many.

Social Impact Report

CVC’s annual Social Impact Report captures the aggregate outcomes occurring at the Villages across our rich network of more than 20 partner agencies.

Awards

2019 LABC Community Impact Award
For Century Housing’s efforts in Alleviating LA County’s Housing Crisis.

2018 NAHB Multifamily Pillars of the Industry Award
For Anchor Place for Best Affordable Apartment Community (Over 100 Units).

2019 Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition
Charles Edson Tax Credit Excellence Award for Anchor Place for Metropolitan Housing (population more than 300,000).

2019 AIA HUD Secretary Award
In recognition of design excellence, including sustainability, affordability, innova- tion, integration of natural and built contexts, and satisfaction of specific client needs.

Our Vision

Homes are the cornerstone of a thriving and just society.

Our Values

Our word is our currency. We do what we say and we do it right.

Our action is our trade. We set goals, we work tirelessly, we measure our activity, and we own our work.

Our table always has room. We welcome input and are collaborative in our decisions and actions.

We are marathoners. We take the long view in our actions, investments and initiatives.

We care. We listen and treat residents, colleagues and clients with respect, dignity, and compassion.

We are avid learners. We are always innovating, forever curious, and never satisfied.

We are trustworthy. We are prudent stewards, thoughtful risk-takers and responsible investors.

Our Mission

We finance, build, and operate exceptional affordable housing so that the people we serve may have a dignified home, a healthy and hopeful future and attain economic independence.

Contact our community engagement team:

Century Villages at Cabrillo

2001 River Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90810

(562) 388–8000