Century Housing celebrated the grand opening of The Cove, its newest affordable housing development specifically for low-income and homeless veterans, on Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The 90-unit apartment community was developed by Century Affordable Development, Inc., and is the latest addition to Century Villages at Cabrillo, a 27-acre supportive housing campus in west Long Beach. City and county officials joined the ribbon-cutting ceremony and applauded Century Village’s growth over the last 30 years.
Officials such as Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, former Mayor and now-Congressman Robert Garcia, Senator Lena Gonzalez, Councilmember Roberto Uranga and many others were present for Wednesday’s grand opening.
“The Cove represents a meaningful milestone for this former Navy housing site, now home to the Villages at Cabrillo, where more than 1,500 residents reside each night,” said Brian D’Andrea, Senior Vice President of Housing at Century Housing, at the grand opening. “As the newest addition to the Villages, The Cove’s 90 apartments embody nearly three decades of Century Housing’s mission — creating dignified, supportive and affordable homes for those in need, and standing as a crown jewel in our journey of transformation.”
The Cove offers housing for individuals earning 30 to 60% of the area median income, including 60 units of permanent supportive housing for veterans who are experiencing homelessness. Long Beach’s 2024 Point in Time Count identified 380 veterans experiencing homelessness within the city, a slight increase since 2023, with 47% of those people lacking any kind of shelter.
Residents are referred to The Cove through the Coordinated Entry System and have access to supportive services provided by the VA Long Beach Healthcare System and Century Oasis Residential Services.
“After serving seven and a half years in the U.S. Army, life took an unexpected turn. In 2017, I lost my job as a mechanic and eventually found myself without a home. For a time, I lived in my car while working full-time,” said Jason Smith, a resident of The Cove and a veteran who served during Operation Enduring Freedom, at the grand opening. “By 2021, I was working at a warehouse that supplied materials for what would become The Cove — never imagining it would one day become my home. After months in transitional housing, I finally have a stable place to call my own. Life has a way of coming full circle, and for that, I’m deeply grateful.”
Construction on The Cove began in 2022 and finished earlier this year. Funding for The Cove comes from a mix of public and private sources, including the City of Long Beach, County of Los Angeles, Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, and Wells Fargo.
“The Cove is a testament to what we can accomplish when we prioritize housing for those who have served our country. These new homes offer veterans not just shelter, but the stability and support they need to rebuild their lives,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn, who represents the Fourth District on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. “I’m proud to support developments like The Cove that are changing lives and strengthening our community.”
The Cove features amenities designed to support residents’ well-being, including a community room, courtyard, computer lab, study area and bicycle repair shop that will serve the entire Villages campus.
Additionally, The Cove is LEED Gold-certified, a reflection of its sustainability features, such as solar panels, a cool roof, electric vehicle chargers and native landscaping.
“The City of Long Beach is dedicated to building solutions to homelessness, and new housing developments like The Cove are among our most effective tools in that effort,” said Mayor Richardson at the ceremony.