Action Plan 24-26
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Together we rise.
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The Action Plan is a roadmap co-created by all Housing CAN members, outlining collective contributions over the next two years to achieve our topline result of reducing rent burden by 30% through the production of 10,000 units of affordable housing.
Creating the Action Plan involves combining deep data analysis and community perspectives to shape a strategic response to regional housing affordability and economic mobility barriers. For more information on the data that went into this plan, visit our data page.
By July 1, 2026, there will be at least 7,500 new units of affordable housing completed, under construction, or set to be under construction within six months, with an emphasis on units connected to Early Childhood Education (ECE) and improved health equity.
Learn about our strategic approach and associated key actions
Pipeline
Identify 3,000 units a year that meet the criteria for the affordable housing pipeline with an emphasis on those that include connections to health and ECE and move at least 50% of pipeline projects to development.
- Identify 3,000 new units for the pipeline by July 1, 2025 and another 3,000 by July 1, 2026.
- Review each city’s housing element site inventory and identify at least 3 parcels in each city that would score best for TCAC/HCD funding.
- Inventory other non-city-owned parcels of land in high-opportunity areas (including school district, tribal, faith-based institution, and private land) and approach owners about the possibility of affordable housing development on those parcels.
- Explore opportunities presented by SB 9 for splitting lots and increasing density and work with municipalities to streamline and incentivize the process for ADU development on split lots.
- Diversify and expand the types of units in the pipeline through the development of mixed-use properties, new homeownership models, adaptive reuse, Polanco parks, etc.
- Identify and address key barriers keeping units stuck in early phases of the development process.
- Develop a strategy specifically for moving Polanco park / mobile home parks from early phase of the development process to construction and completion.
- Encourage the preservation of existing affordable housing stock by taking an inventory of current affordable housing developments with affordability covenants expiring through 2028 and developing a plan for extending affordability.
- Revamp online Pipeline Portal with a public-facing dashboard to track progress and offer trainings for municipal and developer partners on how to use the portal to identify opportunities for development.
Funding
Address the funding bottleneck occurring due to scarcity of low income housing tax credits through increasing the lending pool of the We Lift Catalyst Fund, the creation of alternative revenue streams, changes to the current tax credit distribution process, and innovative financing approaches.
- Determine the required funding amount to address the bottleneck and identify suitable sources.
- Match local affordable developers with alternatives to LIHTC including like HUD 221(d)4, Fannie/Freddie lending products, and Real Estate Investment Trust.
- Leverage federal and state funding sources at the intersections of climate, health, and housing.
- Push state agencies (like CALHFA) to take on more risk with underwriting criteria for financing nonconforming or riskier projects.
- Engage foundations to support loan guaranty pools and provide incentives for risk-taking by CDFIs.
- Establish a regional technical assistance hub to assist developers in accessing funds and resources.
- Educate the public on affordable housing financing nuances and explore tax increment financing models.
- Push local municipalities to increase Transit Occupancy Tax (TOT) rates and allocate additional revenue to fund affordable housing development.
- Advocate for the establishment of local funding mechanisms dedicated to affordable housing, such as impact fees, dedicated tax revenues, tax increment financing models, bonds, etc.
- Grow the We Lift Catalyst Fund’s lending pool to more than $80 million, including by courting private sector investments into the fund.
Policy Advocacy
Move policy and regulations at the municipal, state, and federal level to enable more affordable housing development and bring more resources to our region.
- Key Actions (Local)
- Engage local policymakers to implement city-level pro-housing polices and ordinances like rent caps, inclusionary housing ordinances, short-term rental regulation, affordable housing zoning overlays, fee-waivers, commercial linkage fees, etc.
- Advocate for community benefits agreements with local corporations to support affordable workforce housing, living wage job creation, and other tangible community benefits.
- Hold cities accountable on housing element implementation and track policies and ordinances that are working to produce affordable housing.
- Educate local municipalities on how to use new and existing state laws to streamline and expand affordable housing production.
- Encourage all of the local cities to contribute to the We Lift Catalyst Fund as part of a regional approach.
- Key Actions (State)
- Participate in statewide pro-affordable housing coalitions and ensure that the Coachella Valley’s challenges and needs are taken seriously and embedded into broader advocacy efforts.
- Amplify the region’s voice in Sacramento by building a bi-partisan coalition of state legislators from Riverside, San Bernardino, and Imperial Counties to fight for more affordable housing resources for our region.
- Continue to re-orient climate, density, and equity goals to fit inland California regions in the guidelines and regulations of CDLAC, TCAC, and HCD and how these agencies use the HCD/TCAC Opportunity Maps.
- Advocate for HCD to start contributing money to projects during construction as opposed to later in the process to drive down costs.
- Push for an expanded definition of leveraged public funding vis-a-vis the TCAC tie-breaker process to include We Lift Catalyst Fund funds.
- Key Actions (Federal)
- Continue to work with local members of Congress and federal agencies on policy action around better alignment of federal health and housing funding and programs and the importance of housing as a social determinant of health, including expanding eligible uses for Medicaid reimbursements to include a wider range of supportive services and affordable housing construction.
- Elevate the work and success of the Housing CAN model to California’s US Senators and other members of the California delegation in Congress.
- Support federal legislation and regulatory fixes that address housing affordability, homelessness, and homeownership, including increased availability of project-based vouchers and low-income housing tax credits, strengthened tenant protections, and more funding for rural development.
Infrastructure/Utilities
Work with utilities to ensure affordable housing opportunities are not limited by electric, gas, and sewer constraints.
- Aggregate and stress test infrastructure pipeline that includes power, water, sewer, broadband, and other housing-supportive infrastructure and integrate into housing pipeline.
- Scrub infrastructure pipeline for systems barriers to moving deals forward (including financing, policy, land use, and political barriers) and identify and implement interventions to address those barriers.
- Explore opportunities for joint power authority arrangements with utility companies and municipalities to fund and implement infrastructure upgrades.
- Identify alternative options for climate-friendly power provision including virtual power plants and microgrids that would unlock new possibilities for affordable housing development or speed up stalled projects.
- Build relationships with utility companies and the California Public Utilities Commission and bring them into the Housing CAN efforts as partners.
- Educate the public and local elected officials about the importance of and challenges with infrastructure as it relates to affordable housing.
Movement Building
Through strategic communications and resident engagement, build greater public awareness and support for affordable housing in the region.
- Key Actions (Strategic Communications)
- Continue to push out strategic communications campaign to raise awareness about affordable housing issues and solutions.
- Utilize various media platforms and storytelling techniques to engage and mobilize community members.
- Collaborate with local influencers, media outlets, and community organizations to amplify housing advocacy efforts.
- Identify top five sectors and points of contact to prioritize mobilization efforts across jurisdictions.
- Empower a range of key messengers (residents, employers, service providers) to push for affordable housing – and deploy toolkits for messengers.
- Disseminate storytelling that pushes new approaches, outside-the-box thinking, and stays in an asset frame to draw new support for housing.
- Build network with chambers of commerce and tribal engagement, make case for housing support and community benefits agreements.
- Key Actions (Resident Engagement)
- Empower residents through Committees by Cities organizing efforts to advocate for affordable housing policies and initiatives in their respective communities.
- Provide training and resources to residents to become effective advocates for housing justice.
- Foster community partnerships and grassroots networks to strengthen resident-led initiatives.
- Identify other housing advocates in the region and build partnerships around shared agenda interests.
- Continue to activate the Resident Leadership Table to educate residents and increase resident civic engagement through attendance at public meetings, letters of support, and other activities in support of affordable housing.
- Mobilize CAN members and their networks to support affordable housing proposals.
- Produce materials and work with partners to equip elected and appointed public officials with data and arguments in support of affordable housing.
Rapid Response
Advocate for and develop supports that can help residents with emergency housing needs.
- Establish rent relief programs to fund affordable housing initiatives and prevent displacement.
- Expand emergency housing options for individuals experiencing homelessness.
- Provide education and resources for residents to increase their income and access affordable housing options.
- Advocate for policies and incentives to promote sustainable housing practices and support vulnerable populations.
No matter your interests or background, you can contribute to a brighter future in the Coachella Valley.