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The City of Eureka was recently awarded a $3.3 million grant from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to build the Everding Community Center, which will house programming for the Boys & Girls Club of the Redwoods. The community center will double as an emergency shelter during extreme weather events.

Additional details can be found in the following press release from the Housing Authority of the City of Eureka:

EUREKA, CA – The City of Eureka has been awarded Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding through California’s Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) as part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s announcement of $52 million in federal grants to revitalize communities statewide. The funding will support the development of the Everding Community Center, a cornerstone project in the Housing Authority of the City of Eureka’s (HACE) comprehensive Everding Repositioning initiative, developed in partnership with Brinshore Development and Operative Office.

Eureka was named among six California communities receiving public facility improvement grants, which together total $18 million. The award recognizes the transformative potential of the Everding Community Center to serve one of Humboldt County’s most underserved neighborhoods.

About the Everding Community Center

The Everding Community Center (ECC) will serve as the hub of a comprehensive redevelopment serving Census Tract 3, designated as a “disinvested” community under California Jobs First criteria. The facility will house programming by the Boys & Girls Club of the Redwoods (BGCR), providing critical services to youth and families in the Everding neighborhood and surrounding public housing communities.

The ECC is designed as a net-zero, carbon-neutral building featuring rooftop solar panels, all-electric appliances, energy-efficient windows, and sustainable design elements. Beyond serving as a youth and community programming center, the facility will enhance regional disaster resilience by providing emergency shelter capacity during extreme weather events.

Integrated Housing Development

The Everding Community Center serves as the linchpin of HACE’s larger Everding Repositioning masterplan, a nearly $100 million comprehensive redevelopment of the agency’s public housing portfolio. The ECC will be constructed in coordination with adjacent affordable housing developments, including the Green Phase (142 units) and the Blue Phase (44 senior housing units), creating an integrated community where residents have immediate access to services and programming.

“This funding represents a critical investment in our community’s future,” said Cheryl Churchill, Executive Director of HACE. “The Everding Community Center will provide essential services to our residents while demonstrating how public-private partnerships can create lasting, positive change in underserved communities. We are grateful to Governor Newsom and HCD for their confidence in this project.”

Development Partnership

The Everding Repositioning is being developed through a partnership between HACE, Brinshore Development, and Operative Office. This collaboration brings together local leadership with specialized expertise in affordable housing development, ensuring that project control and decision-making authority remains with Humboldt County entities while leveraging best practices from successful developments nationwide.

“This investment allows us to deliver more than a building—it helps create a resilient, service-rich community for Everding residents,” said David Brint, Co-founding Principal at Brinshore Development. “We’re proud to partner with HACE and Operative Office to strengthen affordable housing and expand opportunity in Humboldt County.”

The development team has secured multiple funding commitments for the broader project, including historic tax credit allocations from the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee (CDLAC), demonstrating strong state confidence in the project’s viability and community impact.

Community Impact

The project will directly benefit over 230 public housing residents and 100 youth served by BGCR, with 99% of BGCR students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Construction will provide employment opportunities for local workers, with priority hiring from the community.

The BGCR serves a significantly more diverse population than Eureka’s overall demographics, with programming designed to support young people from priority communities. By providing quality, affordable childcare and youth services, the ECC will enable parents to pursue employment opportunities and contribute to the region’s economic vitality.

Statewide Initiative

Governor Newsom’s announcement included 90 projects across 53 California counties, funded through federal Community Development Block Grants and Emergency Solutions Grants. HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez noted that “the CDBG grants awarded this year will foster improved quality of life for low-income Californians in rural communities in every corner of the state.”

The Eureka award aligns with the state’s commitment to supporting integrated housing and community development projects that address multiple needs simultaneously—from affordable housing and youth services to climate resilience and economic opportunity.

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