IRVINE, CA – Jamboree Housing Corporation announced that George F. Searcy has been named Vice President of Community Impact to lead the nonprofit’s statewide initiative to leverage its affordable housing as a platform for community development that creates measurable improvement in neighborhoods. Jamboree is focused on building evidence-based practices in housing, economic development, education and health-related interventions on a wider scale. Searcy joined Jamboree last year as Vice President of Resident Services.
Irvine, CA-headquartered Jamboree is one of California’s leading community development organizations specializing in affordable housing with a focus on delivering education and self-improvement programs for residents that include families, seniors, veterans, and individuals with special needs. Currently, the company has $300 million in affordable housing projects in its development pipeline and a $1.1 billion asset portfolio that includes the development of and/or ownership interest in more than 7,500 homes in 75 California communities.
Searcy has broad leadership experience in both the public and private sectors in creating, implementing, and managing diverse social, health and education programs. He will oversee Jamboree’s comprehensive, multi-layered services programming provided at little or no cost to Jamboree’s own residents and now to the entire community.
“With this change, George will lead our initiative to widen the scope and diversity of our economic development, education, social and health and wellness initiatives designed to support communities in which we develop and own properties,” said Laura Archuleta, Jamboree’s President. “By working with neighborhood residents and surrounding businesses, schools and community-based groups, Jamboree will make measurable advances in our mission to partner with communities to enhance the health and quality of community, individual and family life.”
Searcy highlighted that this expanded initiative requires broad and accurate data across a variety of measures – including crime rates, income and education levels, language proficiency,unemployment, and school performance. Collaboration with key stakeholders – such as city officials, school principals and superintendents, law enforcement, property managers, community organizers, social service providers, and churches – forms the basis of understanding for how to work with and in specific neighborhoods.
“We want to thoroughly understand each community in which we work so that we can support neighborhood goals,” Searcy explained. “Ideally, we conduct a comprehensive assessment that involves in-depth neighborhood work as well as a data analysis to identify community assets, perceptions and challenges. In turn, this helps us to determine the infrastructure necessary for Jamboree’s design and development activity to serve that community most effectively. This process ensures that
our housing, common area infrastructure and services are relevant, sustainable and effective in addressing the real needs of
residents and the community at large.”
“Our goal is to improve the overall health and strength of a community as defined by access to quality physical and mental health services, improvement in educational outcomes, improved social bonds, access to parks and recreation facilities, and a feeling of security,” Searcy said. “To create long-term value in neighborhoods, this approach will enable us to work arm-in-arm with local leaders, decision-makers, community members and advocates to ensure that our activities lead to lasting, positive change that transforms lives and strengthens communities.”
About Jamboree: Founded in 1990 and celebrating its 25th anniversary, Irvine, CA-headquartered Jamboree Housing Corporation is an award-winning, broad-based nonprofit housing company that develops, acquires, renovates and manages permanently affordable rental and ownership housing throughout California for working families, seniors and people with special needs. A leading community development organization, Jamboree is committed to sustaining excellence with high quality affordable housing that benefits the environment, the economy and local communities. It currently has $320 million in affordable housing projects in its development pipeline and a $1.1 billion asset portfolio that includes the development of and/or ownership interest in more than 7,500 homes in more than 75 California communities. Currently, Jamboree’s Community Impact Group offers resident services that foster learning, health and community building at 35 Jamboree communities with designated staff at each location. For more information, visit jamboreehousing.com.