Local non-profit highlights community commitment to affordable housing with billboards
Lift to Rise has launched a new billboard campaign that features residents from the Coachella Valley who have partnered with the non-profit organization to help find solutions to a number of challenges, including the affordable housing crisis.
"It's really intended to tell the story of community residents and what community residents need in order to thrive," according to Heather Vaikona, CEO and President of Lift to Rise. There are a total of seven billboards in different locations and each features a photograph taken by photographer Noé Montes.
The locations for each billboard are below:
- Coachella, Grapefruit Blvd and Ave 48
- Rancho Mirage, Hwy 111 and Frank Sinatra
- Palm Springs, Mesquite Ave and Gene Autry
- Desert Hot Springs, Palm Dr and Claire Ave
- Thousand Palms, I-10 and Monterey
- Cabazon, I-10 and Main Street
- Indio, Hwy 111 and Maple Avenue
"We've seen all nine cities and the county and more than 70 organizations working together to increase the supply of housing that people can afford," said Vaikona. She added, "We've seen folks working together on policy changes, working collectively to draw down investment, and working together to really advocate for the importance of more housing that people can afford in every single city in the Coachella Valley. That's really where you see community residents stepping up and not just giving voice to, but also a face to who it is that is priced out of our housing market."
Cathedral City resident and business owner Sarah Mosely has been a part of Lift to Rise for roughly four years. Before she became involved with the organization, she was operating her childcare business from the home she was renting, which she said was "challenging" since she had the desire to buy a home, but wasn't able to afford it.
"Its an honor to be the bridge. I feel like I have the opportunity to not only be at the table for myself, but to also be at the table for others in my community," according to Mosely. She explained that through her work, she is often around families that are struggling to find affordable housing.
Mosely said throughout her time with Lift to Rise she has seen more neighborhoods be included in round table discussions on whats needed in a particular area.
Vaikona said Lift to Rise has seen production rates increase from 38 units a year, on average, between 2010 and 2018, to now more than 1,600 units under production a year. The organization, along with the county and other partners, deployed more than $300,000,000 of rental assistance during the pandemic and kept 120,000 people housed.
In 2018, Lift to Rise set a ten year goal to radically increase housing supply by 10,000 units, which would reduce housing cost burden at a population level by 30% by 2028. "We set that goal because residents overwhelmingly, more than 1,400 residents who participated in a listening process with us identified housing instability as their number one issue," according to Vaikona. She added, "we continue to work towards that goal."
Currently, there are more than 7,700 units of affordable housing under some phase from concept to completion of development in the Coachella Valley.
Lift to Rise and its partners will meet later this month to start creating the next two-year Action Plan. The organization's plan for 2022-2024 plan can be found here.
