More than 300 people attended the official grand opening of Jericho Village on Thursday, June 25, marking the completion of a long-term project to provide affordable housing and wraparound support services. The 38-unit development, located at 511 W. Brown St., is the first income-based urban housing village in Wylie. Farmersville is about 8 miles east of Princeton.
The project is a development of the Agape Resource & Assistance Center, a Plano-based organization founded by CEO Janet Collinsworth. The center’s mission focuses on assisting women and families who have experienced homelessness, domestic violence, or human trafficking. The Jericho Village property includes studio through three-bedroom apartments, with some units designed to be ADA-accessible. Beyond housing, the site provides on-site counseling, education, and other services intended to help residents achieve long-term stability.
Civic leaders and community members participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which featured remarks from local officials and food vendors. Hope for the Cities Executive Director Jon Bailey served as the master of ceremonies, highlighting the perseverance required to bring the project to fruition. He noted that many attendees had witnessed the vision evolve from an initial concept into a realized community.
Wylie Mayor Matthew Porter shared that the name Agape resonated with him due to a family heirloom bearing the same Greek word for unconditional love. He described the development as a commitment to caring for all community members, rather than just a specific demographic. Porter emphasized that the project offers more than temporary shelter, providing resources designed to foster generational stability rather than serving as a short-term fix.
During the event, a congressional recognition from U.S. Representative Keith Self was presented to Collinsworth and the various partners involved. The inscription commended the community for demonstrating compassion through action, stating that the opportunities created would strengthen families and provide hope. Collinsworth used her address to thank volunteers, donors, churches, and board members, while also directing attention to spiritual motivations for the work.
