In the spring of 2000, MidPen Housing purchased a dilapidated trailer park that was at-risk of closure in order to convert it to permanent affordable housing. Completing extensive land renovations and habitat preservations, the hillside next to Pinto Lake in unincorporated Santa Cruz became Villas del Paraiso, affordable farmworker family housing. Villas del Paraiso rental apartments were constructed using manufactured housing materials as required by city ordinances. A community facility includes amenities such as a multi-use community room with kitchen, computer lab, and laundry room. Outdoors, there are two playgrounds, a soccer field, a basketball hoop, a viewing dock at the lake, and space for a community garden. Residents are also offered access to community resources and social services through MidPen Resident Services Corp.
