activities · 12
what they do
direct service · 5
- Affordable Housing Development and FinancingProvides loans and financing to support the development of affordable housing units, including over $26 million committed since 2021 toward nearly 900 units and making over $44 million available through the Housing Catalyst Fund. The organization tracks over 9,300 units in various stages of development, with 1,405 completed, 990 under construction, and 940 set to begin soon.
- Affordable Housing Pipeline Management Acquisition and Rehabilitation of Affordable HousingOperates an Affordable Housing Pipeline Portal to map ongoing projects and identify suitable land for development, with goals to identify 3,000 units annually for inclusion in the pipeline and advance at least 50% to development, aiming for 7,500 units to be completed, under construction, or set to begin within six months by July 1, 2026.
- Develops and tracks large-scale affordable housing production goals Acquisition and Rehabilitation of Affordable HousingSeeks to produce 10,000 new affordable homes in the Coachella Valley, with a near-term goal of 7,500 units completed, under construction, or set to begin construction by July 1, 2026, and an annual pipeline target of 3,000 units with at least 50% advanced to development.
- Operates affordable housing development pipeline and land identification portal Acquisition and Rehabilitation of Affordable HousingManages an Affordable Housing Pipeline Portal that maps ongoing affordable housing projects and identifies suitable land for development, tracking over 9,300 units in various stages, with more than 3,300 completed or progressing toward completion.
- Provides financing for affordable housing projects Acquisition and Rehabilitation of Affordable HousingHas committed over $26 million in loans since 2021 to support the development of nearly 900 affordable housing units, including project-specific financing such as for Vista Sunrise, and makes over $44 million available through the Housing Catalyst Fund.
advocacy · 2
- Advocacy Coalition OrganizationOrganized a coalition of 27 organizations and leaders to advocate against federal funding cuts that impact affordable housing and resident health.
- Advocates for affordable housing and resident health through coalition buildingOrganized a coalition of 27 organizations and leaders to advocate against federal funding cuts impacting affordable housing and health, contributing to recognition by the Los Angeles Times for measurable progress.
capacity building · 5
- Convenes cross-sector partnerships and leadership initiatives for housing advocacy Advocacy for Housing Access & EquityConvenes over 70 cross-sector partners and leads the Committees By Cities initiative to build resident leadership and advocacy capacity in the Coachella Valley, holding monthly meetings and biennial strategy sessions to advance housing goals.
- Cross-Sector Coalition Building and Convening Advocacy for Housing Access & EquityConvenes over 70 cross-sector partners and holds monthly meetings to develop actions and assess progress toward affordable housing goals, including biennial multi-day strategy sessions to evaluate and update the regional Action Plan.
- Expands housing financing through private investment in Catalyst Fund Small Business Grant & Loan ProgramsPlans to grow the We Lift Catalyst Fund’s lending pool to over $80 million by attracting private sector investments, building on over $44 million already raised.
- Expansion of Lending Capacity for Affordable Housing Acquisition and Rehabilitation of Affordable HousingSeeks to grow the We Lift Catalyst Fund’s lending pool to over $80 million by attracting private sector investments, having already raised over $44 million to support affordable housing development.
- Leadership and Advocacy Capacity Building Community-Led Economic Development AdvocacyLeads the "Committees By Cities" initiative to build leadership and advocacy skills among Coachella Valley residents, strengthening local engagement in housing and community development efforts.
strategies · 13
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Alternative and catalytic financing for affordable housing alternative_financing_for_affordable_housingAddresses financing gaps in affordable housing by deploying alternative mechanisms such as a revolving loan fund and catalyst fund that pool public, private, and institutional capital to provide flexible, low-interest financing, with repayments recycled to fund new community-prioritized developments.
- Alternative and flexible financing for affordable housing alternative_financing_for_affordable_housingAddresses gaps in affordable housing financing by deploying alternative mechanisms such as a revolving loan fund and catalyst fund that combine public, private, and institutional capital to provide low-interest, flexible financing, with repayments recycled to fund new projects.
- Backbone support for regional collective impact initiatives backbone_organizationProvides centralized coordination, storytelling, and mobilization as the backbone organization for a regional collaboration aimed at transforming systems and advancing equity in housing and economic opportunity.
- Collaborative cross-sector action network collaborative action networkAdvances affordable housing and systemic change through a coordinated, collective impact model that convenes public, private, nonprofit, and community partners—supported by backbone organization functions—to co-create and implement regional strategies.
- Cross-sector collaborative action network collaborative action networkAdvances affordable housing through coordinated action among public, private, nonprofit, and community partners using a collective impact model, with shared goals such as reducing rent burden and producing 10,000 affordable units.
- Data and community-informed strategic planning data_and_community_informed_planningGuides regional housing strategies through integrated analysis of data and community input, ensuring plans are both evidence-based and reflective of lived experience, as seen in co-created action plans developed with over 70 partners.
- Data-informed, community-driven planning community-driven planningGuides regional housing and economic mobility strategies through a community-driven process that integrates deep data analysis with diverse community perspectives, resulting in co-created action plans developed with over 70 partners to reduce housing costs and rent burden.
- Digital transparency and capacity building for community engagement digital_transparency_and_capacity_buildingIncreases transparency and broadens participation in housing development by providing public-facing digital tools—such as dashboards and interactive maps—for tracking progress and training programs to build partner and community capacity.
- Digital transparency and interactive progress tracking digital_transparency_and_capacity_buildingIncreases transparency, engagement, and capacity building by using public-facing digital tools—such as a dashboard and interactive mapping—to share affordable housing pipeline data, track progress, and identify future development opportunities.
- Housing as a health and economic intervention housing as health interventionPositions affordable housing as a lever for broader health and economic improvements by tracking developments for their impact on resident health outcomes and economic mobility, reinforcing housing as a foundational intervention.
- Housing as a health and economic intervention housing as health interventionPositions affordable housing as a determinant of health and economic mobility, tracking developments not only for production metrics but also for their impact on resident well-being and systemic inequities.
- Resident-led advocacy and leadership development resident-led advocacyDevelops resident leadership and ensures community voice shapes strategic direction by engaging residents in leadership roles and advocacy efforts, such as through the Resident Leadership Table, to build local power and influence decision-making.
- Resident-led advocacy and leadership development resident-led advocacyBuilds community power and ensures resident voice shapes strategic direction by developing resident leadership through structures like the Resident Leadership Table and localized committees, which inform planning, implementation, and advocacy efforts.
named programs · 11
what they call their work
2024-2026 Action Plan
Strategic roadmap to reduce rent burden by 30% through the production of 10,000 affordable housing units by 2028, organized around six pillars: Pipeline, Funding, Policy Advocacy, Infrastructure/Utilities, Movement Building, and Rapid Response.
Committees By Cities
City-specific resident committees organizing local advocacy for affordable housing policies and development
Funding
Address financing bottlenecks by expanding the We Lift Catalyst Fund, leveraging federal/state funding, advocating for policy changes in tax credit allocation, and creating alternative financing models
Infrastructure/Utilities
Work with utilities and agencies to resolve electric, water, sewer, and broadband constraints that block affordable housing development
Movement Building
Build public support through strategic communications, resident engagement, storytelling, and partnerships with chambers of commerce and tribal entities
Pipeline
Identify and advance 3,000 affordable housing units per year into development with emphasis on health and early childhood education connections; includes land inventory, zoning analysis, and use of SB 9 and ADUs
Pipeline Portal
Public-facing online dashboard that tracks affordable housing development opportunities, identifies key parcels, and supports municipal and developer partners in advancing projects.
Policy Advocacy
Advocate for pro-housing policies at local, state, and federal levels including rent caps, inclusionary zoning, TOT increases, and expanded use of Medicaid for housing
Rapid Response
Develop emergency supports including rent relief programs, expanded emergency housing, and policy advocacy to prevent displacement
Resident Leadership Table (RLT)
Platform for resident leaders to shape strategic vision, build advocacy skills, and engage in civic processes
We Lift Catalyst Fund
A regional financing initiative designed to address funding bottlenecks in affordable housing development by expanding access to capital, with a goal to grow the lending pool to over $80 million.
relationships · 33
who they work with
- CALHFA Government — Advocates for CALHFA to adopt more flexible underwriting criteria for financing nonconforming or riskier affordable housing projects.
- California Public Utilities Commission Government — Builds relationships and brings the CPUC into the Housing CAN as a partner to address infrastructure constraints affecting housing development.
- California State University San Bernardino Partner — Partner in the coalition working to increase housing affordability in the Coachella Valley.
- City of Cathedral City Partner — Partner in the coalition working to increase housing affordability in the Coachella Valley.
- City of Coachella Partner — Partner in the coalition working to increase housing affordability in the Coachella Valley.
- City of Desert Hot Springs Partner — Partner in the coalition working to increase housing affordability in the Coachella Valley.
- City of Indian Wells Partner — Partner in the coalition working to increase housing affordability in the Coachella Valley.
- City of Indio Partner — Partner in the coalition working to increase housing affordability in the Coachella Valley.
- City of La Quinta Partner — Partner in the coalition working to increase housing affordability in the Coachella Valley.
- City of Palm Desert Partner — Partner in the coalition working to increase housing affordability in the Coachella Valley.
- City of Palm Springs Partner — Partner in the coalition working to increase housing affordability in the Coachella Valley.
- City of Rancho Mirage Partner — Partner in the coalition working to increase housing affordability in the Coachella Valley.
- Coachella Valley Association of Governments Partner — Partner in the coalition working to increase housing affordability in the Coachella Valley.
- Coachella Valley Housing Coalition Partner — Partner in the coalition working to increase housing affordability in the Coachella Valley.
- Coachella Valley Housing Coalition (CVHC) Partner — Partner organization that received a We Lift loan for the Vista Sunrise affordable housing project.
- Coachella Valley Unified School District Partner — Partner in the coalition working to increase housing affordability in the Coachella Valley.
- DAP Health Partner — Hosted the Vista Sunrise affordable housing project on its campus in Palm Springs, developed in partnership with CVHC and supported by a We Lift loan.
- Desert Healthcare District Partner — Partner in the coalition working to increase housing affordability in the Coachella Valley.
- Desert Sands Unified School District Partner — Partner in the coalition working to increase housing affordability in the Coachella Valley.
- HCD Government — Works with HCD on housing regulations, funding disbursement timing, and regional equity in opportunity mapping.
- Housing CAN Coalition — Cross-sector coalition of 70+ public, private, and nonprofit partners advancing affordable housing in the Coachella Valley.
- Housing CAN Partner — Co-creates the Action Plan and leads collective efforts to reduce rent burden and increase affordable housing production.
- Housing CAN Partner — Collaborates with Lift to Rise to transform affordable housing planning and development in the Coachella Valley.
- Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Partner — Partner in the coalition working to increase housing affordability in the Coachella Valley.
- Los Angeles Times Partner — Recognized Lift to Rise's collaborative progress on affordable housing in the Coachella Valley.
- Low Income Investment Fund Partner — Partner in the coalition working to increase housing affordability in the Coachella Valley.
- National CORE Partner — Develops affordable housing projects such as Cathedral Palms, where resident stories are highlighted by Lift to Rise.
- Palm Springs Unified School District Partner — Partner in the coalition working to increase housing affordability in the Coachella Valley.
- Riverside County Partner — Anchors the Housing Collaborative Action Network alongside Lift to Rise.
- Riverside County Housing and Workforce Solutions Partner — Partner in the coalition working to increase housing affordability in the Coachella Valley.
+ 3 more