77%
Of Coachella Valley households are rent burdened or at risk of becoming rent burdened
2026-2028 Action Plan
How we’re creating a future where every family in the Coachella Valley and beyond is healthy, stable, and thriving
Challenges
A plan for where we are and where we’re headed
Affordable housing production is up 5,000% across the Coachella Valley, unsheltered homelessness is down, and homeless encampments are shrinking. But high housing costs still force too many families to choose between groceries and rent. It’s still too hard for our aging neighbors to find accessible homes they can afford on a fixed income. And Black, Brown, and Indigenous people still face higher rates of homelessness and housing insecurity than anyone else in the region.
In short, we’ve made progress, but there’s still work to do. That’s what our Action Plan is for.
In short, we’ve made progress, but there’s still work to do. That’s what our Action Plan is for.
8%
Growth in the Coachella Valley’s senior population by 2028, many of whom will be on fixed incomes
3x
Higher rates of homelessness among Indigenous community members than the rest of the population
What success looks like
Our 10-year goal since 2018:
Reduce rent burden in the Coachella Valley by 30% through the creation of 10,000 units of affordable housing by 2028.
The 2026-2028 finish line:
By December 31, 2028, at least 10,000 units of affordable housing will be completed, under construction, or fully funded in the Coachella Valley.
Strategy #1
Funding
Bring more money to affordable housing through new investment, flexible financing, and long-term funding resources.
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Grow flexible financing tools
Expand the We Lift Catalyst Fund lending pool to $60 million, including $5 million for affordable homeownership projects.
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Find new local funding
Explore new local funding options, including fees, taxes, financing districts, and other public revenue tools.
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Support a statewide housing bond
Advocate for the passage of the state-level Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond on the November 2026 ballot.
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Protect state housing investment
Push for expanded and sustained State of California public investment in key affordable housing programs.
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Bring in private investment
Develop a private investment strategy to draw high-net-worth donors, equity funds, estate planning bequests, and Donor-Advised Funds.
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Support community resources
Push for funding affordable housing developments that include Early Childhood Education and healthcare resources.
Strategy #2
Policy
Push for local and state policies that accelerate and protect affordable housing, and help local projects compete for the funding they need.
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Educate elected officials
Help city leaders understand state and local policies that can speed up affordable housing approvals and ramp up production.
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Create new state policy
Create and support state bills and rule changes that make it easier to build affordable housing in our region.
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Boost rental support
Advocate for rental assistance and subsidy programs that help extremely low-income renters stay in their homes.
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Keep partners on the same page
Continue to bring the Housing Collaborative Action Network (CAN) and Policy and Pipeline Workgroup members together for monthly coalition meetings and targeted policy advocacy.
Strategy #3
Infrastructure
Support the energy and water infrastructure needed to build and sustain more housing across the region long-term.
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Match utilities with housing needs
Work with local utilities to make sure long-term power and water plans line up with local housing goals.
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Fund critical energy connections
Secure state and local funding for power infrastructure, like substation-to-building connections and battery storage.
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Make major development support local needs
Push to include affordable housing and infrastructure needs in community benefit agreements with warehouses and data centers.
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Pilot green energy solutions
Partner on green energy programs that help support affordable housing production.
Strategy #4
Communication & education
Build public support for affordable housing through resident stories, community outreach, media, education, and strategic partnerships.
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Share resident-centered housing stories
Launch a multilingual storytelling campaign that shows the importance of affordable housing.
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Grow community support
Reach community groups, faith organizations, chambers of commerce, trades, and HOAs with clear education about affordable housing.
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Boost visibility
Share our region’s housing progress across TV, radio, print, and digital platforms.
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Spearhead research-backed education
Work with local academic partners to collect stories and data we can use to explain affordable housing solutions to diverse audiences.
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Give elected officials the tools to act
Share policy toolkits with state and local leaders so they can take concrete action on affordable housing.
Strategy #5
Resident leadership
Give residents, youth, and Tribal leaders more opportunities to build advocacy skills and shape local housing solutions.
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Support resident storytellers
Train resident leaders to speak publicly about their housing experiences with electeds, in the media, and at community events.
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Tap more resident advocates
Recruit and support more residents to organize and advocate for housing in their communities.
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Partner with Tribal leaders
Work with Tribal leaders to push for more affordable housing across the region.
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Bring young people into housing advocacy
Create a youth pipeline that prepares young people for future careers in housing advocacy and community leadership.
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Let residents set local housing priorities
Every Committees By Cities group will name a housing priority in their community to focus on each year, in addition to supporting coalition efforts.
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Meet immediate resident needs
Host community workshops to address immediate needs around housing and financial stability alongside our long-term housing work.
Get involved
Join the movement
Ready to get to work? See what’s happening in your community!