Community Advisory Committee

Keeping community voice at the center of our housing work

The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) oversees the We Lift Catalyst Fund to make sure we fund affordable housing projects that match up with what each community needs. Essentially, they help make sure we support the right homes in the right places.

Why the CAC exists

Putting funding where it matters

The Community Advisory Committee helps decide which affordable housing developments we support through the We Lift Catalyst Fund, combining local perspective with key insights to make sure we back the right projects.

For example, they focus on housing that addresses local affordability issues; uses sustainable infrastructure; and has good access to quality schools, transportation, jobs, and grocery stores.

This way, we flip the traditional housing development process on its head and make sure we only fund homes that make sense for the people who’ll live in them.

What the CAC does

How the Community Advisory Committee works

Review

Look at upcoming housing projects

Every quarter, the Community Advisory Committee reviews affordable housing projects that are up for We Lift Catalyst Fund support—evaluating where the homes are going, who they’re for, what needs they meet, and whether they line up with the Fund’s priorities.

Ask

Bring community questions and perspective into the process

Members help ask the right questions: Does this project make sense here? Does it help solve real problems? Is it connected to the things people need, like schools and transportation?

Track

Keep an eye on the finances

The Community Advisory Committee reviews the Fund’s spending activity over time to make sure every dollar is being used to get the most impact for local communities.

Frequently Asked Questions

More to know about the Community Advisory Committee

Who can join?

The Community Advisory Committee is invite-only. When there’s an opening, Lift to Rise staff, board members, partners, and current Community Advisory Committee members recommend new members, who we then vet based on our membership requirements.

Where and when does the Community Advisory Committee meet?

The Community Advisory Committee has an hour-long meeting via Zoom once every quarter. So, roughly once every three months, members come together to review Fund activity and help guide the next We Lift Catalyst Fund investments.

Is travel involved?

Just a bit. There are three virtual meetings per year and one in-person meeting at the Lift to Rise office.

Are there any membership requirements?

Because we need at least 70% of members in attendance in order to vote or make decisions about upcoming projects, Community Advisory Committee members are expected to attend as many meetings as possible. So, while the time commitment isn’t huge, consistent participation really matters.

Members

Meet the Community Advisory Committee

Matt Horton

Lift to Rise Board Chair

Michael F. Walsh

Riverside County Housing & Workforce Solutions

Agustin Arreola

Coachella Resident

Ariel Bishop-Williams

Palm Springs Resident

Melanie Steele

Inland SoCal Housing Collective

Deiter Crawford

Desert Highland Gateway Estates