A coalition of 27 organizations, cities and leaders is urging that the Coachella Valley’s elected representatives in Congress work with their colleagues and the Trump administration to stop proposed cuts to federal funding that would harm residents’ health and access to affordable housing.
In a letter addressed to Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff of California and U.S. Reps. Raul Ruiz and Ken Calvert, whose districts include parts of the Coachella Valley, the signers point to multiple decisions enacted or proposed by the House and administration that “pose an existential threat to our community’s stability” because they will hinder progress being made to build the affordable housing the region needs for all residents to thrive.
“Stable and affordable housing is the foundation for health, economic security, and community prosperity,” the letter states. “With federal funding for Medicaid, food assistance, and other supports also at risk, it is more important than ever to ensure that our community continues to remain stably housed.”
In fiscal year 2023-2024, Riverside County invested $33.7 million in federal funds to build affordable housing, improve neighborhoods, and provide essential services to seniors, veterans, families with children, people with disabilities, people experiencing homelessness, and the hard-working employees in key economic sectors. Riverside County was able to leverage that funding into an additional $100 million for housing and community services.
In addition to the funding cuts, the freeze of congressionally appropriated housing funds, the mass firing of employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the rollback of critical fair housing policies, and the administration’s proposed corporate tax cut will all severely impede future construction of affordable housing, limit much-needed homelessness services, and make it more difficult for residents in need of housing to fairly access available opportunities.
Signers of the letter represent members of the Housing Collaborative Action Network (or Housing CAN), a regional coalition working to improve housing stability and economic mobility in the Coachella Valley through the creation of 10,000 new units of affordable housing over 10 years. The Housing CAN is anchored by Lift to Rise and its lead institutional partner, Riverside County.
Before 2018, the Coachella Valley produced an average of just 38 affordable housing units per year. Since the launch of the housing affordability initiative, members of the Housing CAN have created a pipeline of over 9,300 affordable units, with more than 1,200 units under construction each year.
“None of the progress happening locally around affordable housing would have been possible without sustained federal funding and support,” said Ian Gabriel, Director of Collective Impact at Lift to Rise. “This funding literally lifts up people — and therefore lifts up our whole community – by providing a stable foundation for an affordable, healthy, and thriving community.”
The letter encourages lawmakers to take the following steps to strengthen affordable housing in the Coachella Valley:
- Fully fund key affordable housing and homelessness programs across several federal agencies, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Agriculture, Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Health and Human Services.
- Release all congressionally appropriated housing funds frozen by the Trump administration.
- Restore staffing at the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
- Oppose changes to the federal tax code, especially the reduction of the corporate tax rate, that would reduce the impact of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
- Oppose any efforts to weaken the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing and Equal Access Rules, which work to prevent housing discrimination and promote equal access to marginalized communities.
The following officials and organizations joined in sending the letter: Lift to Rise, Riverside County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez, California Sen. Stephen C. Padilla, City of Coachella, City of Cathedral City, City of Palm Springs, City of Indian Wells, Desert Healthcare District & Foundation, RAP Foundation, The Pacific Companies, Community Housing Opportunities Corp. (CHOC), Rural Communities Assistance Corp. (RCAC), Kounkuey Design Initiative, Inland Empire Latino Lawyers, Riverside Legal Aid, Coachella Valley Housing Coalition, Neighborhood Partnership Housing, DAP Health, Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC), Southern California Association of, Non-Profit Housing (SCANPH), Innercare, Abode Communities, Habitat for Humanity of the Coachella Valley, Inland SoCal Housing Collective, UC Riverside Center for Community Solutions, New Harmony, Farmworkers Institute of Education and Leadership Development.
The letter is part of an ongoing effort by Housing CAN members to raise awareness around the potential consequences of federal funding cuts and encourage residents to share their concerns with Congress.
To foster further community action, Lift to Rise is hosting a phonebanking event on Tuesday, March 11, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lift to Rise headquarters, 75-175 Merle, Palm Desert. Dubbed Taco Action Tuesday, anyone wishing to call members of Congress to oppose spending cuts and express support for federal funding that helps Riverside County families is invited. A taco lunch and calling instructions will be provided. Anyone planning to attend is asked to RSVP at lifttorise.org/events.