Rep. Pete Aguilar, left, joins Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren and local officials to announce $1.2 million in federal funding for the Aldea Apartments Phase II expansion, which is expected to add 80 affordable housing units in Fontana. / IVN Photo by Aldon Stiles

Fontana, CA — Rep. Pete Aguilar joined Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren on Aug. 11 to announce $1.2 million in federal funding for an expansion of the Aldea Apartments, a project city officials say will add 80 affordable housing units and help residents transition out of homelessness.

The community project funding, secured by Aguilar for the city’s Aldea Apartments Acquisition Phase II project, will help purchase approximately 2.4 acres adjacent to the existing apartment complex at 15186 Foothill Blvd.

The planned expansion would add housing while providing additional outdoor amenities, including a children’s playground, dog park and parking.

“This has been the kind of brainchild of the city of Fontana,” Aguilar told Inland Valley News. “Our office supports their desire to expand affordable housing so families can have a safe environment.”

Aguilar said the project fits into a broader effort to move people experiencing homelessness toward increasingly stable housing options.

The existing Aldea development provides housing that can serve residents after they have received temporary shelter and other assistance.

“We work to transition people away from homelessness into help and assistance toward temporary and then more permanent housing,” Aguilar said. “This facility offers them that ability.”

The congressman said the $1.2 million will support the existing facility while helping clear the way for the acquisition and eventual construction of the 80-unit second phase.

He described the future development as similar to the existing project but with expanded amenities and additional parking intended to make it more suitable for families.

Warren said Fontana has worked closely with Aguilar to obtain federal support and is seeking additional money needed to move Phase II into construction.

“We have been working very closely with Congressman Pete Aguilar to make sure that we got funding for acquisition of this building,” Warren said. “So this worked out perfectly because we want to do Phase 2 of this building.”

Warren said the expansion is intended to accommodate more families. She said the city wants to move forward quickly but still needs to secure the remainder of the money necessary to construct the new units.

“We’re trying to get this done as soon as possible, but we still have to get the rest of the funds to be able to build that,” Warren said. “We’re working on it as we speak.”

The existing Aldea Apartments has 78 units and is already 92% occupied, according to Warren. Eleven units are reserved for people coming directly from The Path, Fontana’s homeless emergency shelter program.

Warren said The Path is designed to address some of the underlying circumstances that contributed to a person or family becoming homeless.

Participants receive assistance that can include budgeting and employment support before potentially moving into longer-term housing.

“We look at what has been the problem that they became homeless and try to resolve that issue,” Warren said. “And then we transfer them over here for long-term residence. And this next phase will allow us to help more.”

Aguilar also pointed to partnerships between the city, nonprofit organizations and faith-based groups as part of Fontana’s approach to connecting residents with housing.

“Strengthening that kind of core and ensuring that families have an opportunity for safe, decent, affordable housing is exactly what this project is,” Aguilar said.

The funding is part of $19.7 million Aguilar secured for 15 community projects in California’s 33rd Congressional District for fiscal year 2026 through his role on the House Appropriations Committee.

For Fontana, Warren said the Aldea expansion represents another piece of the city’s effort to increase its supply of affordable housing.

“We’re always trying to increase affordable housing, and this is a great example,” Warren said. “We’ve got the land over there ready to go. We just need to get that building up.”