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CVHC NEWS
QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
Fall 2024
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Pedro S. G. Rodriguez
Executive Director
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Hola Friends, Colleagues, and Supporters!
I hope everyone is doing well, and that you and your family members are safe and healthy. It has been a busy summer in our Single Family development. This quarter we completed 35 houses in the Mutual Self Help Program ( 21 USDA-RD and 14 Urban Self Help in the city of Palm Desert, CA) I was privileged to attend the move-in process for two of our Mutual Self Help groups, one in Imperial, CA and one in Brawley, CA. It is an amazing feeling to see these hard working families move into their beautiful homes. Always nice to hear their stories of how much they sacrifice to build their homes. It is heartwarming and inspiring, reminds us of why we do what we do. Many families expressed their gratitude to CVHC and USDA-RD for this great opportunity to become homeowners and live in a safe, decent, and affordable home. Our fiscal year ended on September 30, 2024. We completed 67 homes this fiscal year and have 94 in construction. We also completed the Vista Sunrise II Apartments, a sixty one unit special needs affordable housing development in the city of Palm Springs, CA. Our multifamily pipeline is also strong with two potential developments receiving tax credits this year. We are excited about the possibility of developing affordable housing for 100 families and 50 Seniors in the city of Indio. We are also finalizing the plans for the construction of a 92 mobile home park in the city of Mecca, CA. In Asset Management we are pleased to announce that our liability and property insurance for our multifamily developments decreased by approximately 34%. We appreciate the efforts of our Property Management Team and Asset Management Team for securing coverage at a significantly reduced rate. Resident Services programs have started our “Kids Club” and continue to collaborate with our partners to provide health related classes such as diabetes prevention, hypertension, and mental health classes. In the next few months, we will be starting our “Second Annual Giving Program” to raise funds for our Resident Services Programs. Thanks to all of you who supported us last year!
“Como Siempre”, (As always), we thank our staff, board of directors and all our financial supporters and friends for their commitment to improving the living conditions of hard working low income individuals and families.
With Gratitude,
PSGR
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CVHC was invited to participate in a Coachella Valley Housing Convening with State of California Secretary Tomiquia Moss and Deputy Secretary Sasha Kergan from the California Business Consumer Services and Housing Agency (BCSH). The event was hosted by the Inland Empire Community Foundation (CVHC funder) and Lift to Rise, and it was held at the city of Coachella Library. This event provided attendees with an opportunity to discuss affordable housing related issues affecting affordable housing developers and to provide practical solutions to these issues.
CVHC provided a tour of our farmworker housing developments Desert Gardens, Villa Hermosa I, II, III in the city of Indio to State of CA Secretary Tomiquia Moss , Deputy Director Sasha Kergan from the California Business Consumer Services and Housing Agency (BCSH), and other key members of Governor’s Newson leadership team. We met with residents living at these sites to talk about their experience. Secretary Moss and her team were very impressed with our developments and congratulated CVHC on our achievements.
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"New Homeowners through the
Mutual Self-Help Program"
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In September 2024, fourteen hardworking families moved into their homes as part of the second Urban Mutual Self-Help group built by CVHC in the city of Palm Desert, CA. This Urban Mutual Self-Help Program was funded by the city of Palm Desert, the State of California Housing and Community Development, First Bank, Banc of California, formally Pacific Premier, US Bank and CVHC. The families worked together to build their homes under the supervision and technical assistance of the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition in the Merle Street Project. The last urban project built by CVHC was done nearly 20 years ago in Cathedral City and for this reason, CVHC is proud to have been able to build homes again in this type of setting. Congratulations to our Single-Family staff and city of Palm Desert staff for assisting these families fulfill their dreams of homeownership. | |
On September 17th, 10 hardworking families in Brawley Group 6 took occupancy of their home. The average loan was $266,000. | |
Two of the families participating in the projects made the following statement, expressing how much they appreciated being a part of the build: | |
"Meet Elizabeth & Joseph"
Our family is grateful to have been part of the Urban Self-Help Program at CVHC. They allowed us the ability to build our home within our financial abilities. We are blessed to have worked alongside our neighbors with the guidance of Guillermo who was most knowledgeable in the building process. Thanks to this program our children will now have a comfortable home to grow up in.
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"Meet Cruz & Sandra"
One of the best decisions my wife and I have ever made is to take part in the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition Mutual Self-Help Program. Building your house requires significant commitment. After over a year, we have successfully finished our home. There were challenges, such as the weather, that made it quite difficult to work outside in the heat, but in the end, it was all worth it. We are thankful and happy to have a home. We, also got to know our neighbors and became good friends. I want to express my sincere gratitude to all the supervisors for their constant assistance throughout the construction of our home, particularly to Don Jesús. You had an incredible method for teaching and guiding us throughout all the construction. I am grateful to everyone who helped us in making our dream a reality.
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In the mutual self-help housing program homes are built in part by homeowners, families work together and collectively build each other’s homes by using their sweat equity in place of a down payment. Mutual self-help housing is accomplished through technical assistance, training and supervision provided by the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition and with permanent financing through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development. Since 1989, CVHC has been helping families fulfill their dream of homeownership. Mutual self-help housing essentially builds communities based on a shared commitment of hard work, mutual support, and lifelong bonds. To date, over 2,150 single-family homes have been constructed throughout Riverside and Imperial counties. | |
Vista Sunrise II Apartments | |
CVHC's most recent completed multifamily development, The Vista Sunrise II Apartments, has been certified GreenPoint Rated Platinum which emphasizes quality construction, comfort, health, and energy efficiency. | |
Community Engagement Events | |
The CVHC kids at Villa Hermosa I,II. & III, Rosa Gardens, Wolff Waters Place, Coyote Run I, & II, & Rosa Gardens Apartments; had the opportunity this summer to enjoy an afternoon once a week of nachos, popcorn, ice cream and participate in arts & crafts; or enjoy watching a movie. The children were excited to interact with each other and create friendship bracelets and to exchange them with each other. | |
In collaboration with Hyder property management CVHC senior residents at Washington Street apartments in La Quinta had the opportunity to enjoy a day of leisure and relaxation by the pool and eat tacos along with their friends, family, and neighbors. Residents had the opportunity to bring in a dish to share among their neighbors if they chose to. Resident Maria Machado stated that “She was glad to have the opportunity to come out of her home and enjoy the company of her neighbors.” | |
Coachella Valley Housing Coalition organized two (2) water day community events at Fred Young Labor Apartments on August 9th & 16th, 2024, celebrating the end of the summer. Families came out to enjoy an afternoon of getting wet with reusable water balloons, sliding down the water slide, while enjoying some refreshments and having pizza. The families ended the event sitting on the grass while enjoying some ice cream cones. | |
Villa Hermosa I, II, & III | |
California Farmworkers Foundation (CFF) along with 20 local organizations in the Coachella Valley held a Resource Fair at Villa Hermosa I, II, & III Apartments. Residents were able to receive resources from local nonprofit organizations and also information on an upcoming event for Covid-19 vaccines, and flu shots, from Desert HealthCare District and Foundation (DHCD) that was available on October 16th in the same location. A total of 17 flu shots and 9 covid-19 vaccines were given. Around 50 residents showed up to the Resource Fair looking for available resources and information on the vaccines. | |
CVHC has multiple scholarship opportunities that encourage secondary education for children of our residents. | |
The scholarship fund awards scholarships annually to students who reside in affordable housing communities developed by CVHC, who are pursuing undergraduate higher education at any accredited college, university or vocational school. To date, nearly a million dollars in scholarship funds have been awarded, benefiting more than 800 students.
In 2002, the Board of Directors and Employees of CVHC established the JFM College Scholarship Fund Program, in honor of CVHC’s founding and retired Executive Director, John F. Mealey.
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Please click below to support the JFM Scholarship, afterschool and music and art programs! | |
Jackie Barajas has been with CVHC for almost two years, starting as a temporary employee and quickly being being hired full time as the SF Accounting Specialist. During her time with CVHC she has displayed her commitment to CVHC, our mission, and the families that we serve; as well as a desire to grow with the organization and the accounting department. | |
Jessica Gonzalez has been with CVHC for 6 months and during that time she has shown her commitment to our mission and the families that we serve with her great customer service; providing information over the phone and assisting families that come into the office. | |
Asset Management Specialist | |
The Asset Management Specialist assists in the functions of the Asset Management Department by providing assistance with the preparation, review, and follow-up on the different reports generated by the department. Assists in the timely preparation and filing of monthly, quarterly, and annual reports to the respective regulatory agencies, investors, lenders, and others as required. | |
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Qualified individuals should send a resume and application to The Coachella Valley Housing Coalition, 45-701 Monroe Street, Suite G, Indio, CA 92201, or via fax to 760-342-6466, or via email to Melissa.Evans@cvhc.org
An offer of employment may be subject to background, reference and credit checks. EOE/AA
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Coachella Valley Housing Coalition
45701 Monroe Street, Suite G, Indio, CA 92201
Tel. (760) 347-3157 www.cvhc.org
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