Nine residential buildings are nearing completion at Jericho Village, each designed to resemble a single-family home, with four apartments sharing a common front door and stairs. Sonia Duggan/C&S Media

Jericho Village, Wylie’s first income-based urban housing village, is nearing completion as construction crews put finishing touches on the 38-unit community designed to provide permanent, supportive housing for working individuals and families.

City and nonprofit leaders and community partners toured the site Wednesday, Dec. 17, located at 511 Brown St. The visit offered a firsthand look at the progress of the project, which is now about 90% complete and on track to welcome its first residents early next year.

The village is a project of Agape Resource & Assistance Center, a Plano-based nonprofit founded by Janet Collinsworth, which has spent years helping women and families transition out of homelessness, domestic violence and human trafficking. The groundbreaking for the 2.5-acre development was held Nov. 7, 2024, with completion originally anticipated within a year.

Since July, when community members were invited to “Bless the Beams” at the village, the vision has rapidly taken shape. Nine residential buildings now stand on the site, each designed to resemble a single-family home. Each building functions as a quadplex, with four apartments— two up and two down—sharing a common front door and stairs, a layout intended to foster connection and a sense of community among residents.

“This will be attainable housing,” Christin Mixon, chief of staff for Agape Resource & Assistance Center, said. “Everyone who lives here will not make the area median income. All the services offered at Agape will be offered to residents at Jericho Village as well, and it will all be housed in the community center.”

Units range from studio to three-bedroom apartments, with four ADA mobility units and four audio/visual accessible units included. Rents are income-based, with 60% of the units reserved for households earning below 50% of the area median income and 95% available to those earning below 80% AMI. In Collin County, the area median income is approximately $117,000.

Jericho Village is open to men, women and families and is intended to serve teachers, civil servants, first responders and other low-income career professionals. Residents will be referred to as “villagers,” and applications will not be accepted until the property receives its certificate of occupancy.

According to Collinsworth, Agape is working to secure a temporary certificate of occupancy for two of the nine residential buildings before Christmas, allowing some families currently in Agape’s transitional housing to continue their journey at Jericho Village.

“We have some potential tenants from Agape in mind to leave our transitional housing and continue their journey here,” Mixon said. “It is all very exciting.”

Full occupancy is expected soon after the final certificate of occupancy is issued. Collinsworth said she anticipates receiving the CO in January, with residents moving in by February.

Agape has already seen strong interest in the village. Collinsworth said more than 60 households responded to a recent needs survey sent out to families and workforce applicants to help ensure a balanced mix of residents.

“We need to have the whole continuum of demographics,” she said. “We have a pool of interest.”

Supportive services will be a cornerstone of life at Jericho Village. The onsite community center will include a computer lab, conference space, offices for case managers and counselors, a health room, children’s activity space, workout room, kitchen, patio with pergola and a playground. Outdoor amenities will also include raised garden beds.

Catholic Charities Dallas will serve as the property manager, handling resident and property needs. While most roles at the village will be volunteer-based, paid positions will primarily be within Agape’s program services, including case management.

Wylie Mayor Matthew Porter, who participated in the tour, said the project fills an important gap in the community.

“You have to be proud of your community, and communities have to take care of everyone,” Porter added. “Anyone can build a road, but something like this takes willpower and effort.”

Collinsworth said the partnership with the city has been instrumental in bringing Jericho Village to life.

“Everyone at the city has been excited about watching it [being built] … it is a lovely partnership and we feel honored to be in Wylie,” she said.

Year-end giving opportunities are also available for those looking to support the village. Donations include sponsorship of a full kitchen, which includes appliances for $2,500; grocery and gas gift cards to assist mothers and children year-round; and the option to dedicate a live tree to help shape the future of Jericho Village. Agape is also seeking volunteers for office support roles as the village prepares to welcome its first residents.

Learn more at hope4agape.org

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