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Lift to Rise presents leadership academy and outlines affordable‑housing pipeline to Coachella commission
Summary
Joe Mota of Lift to Rise described a cross‑sector affordable‑housing effort that he said includes 9,300+ pipeline units, more than 952 units entering construction, a $41,000,000 catalyst loan product and a Communities by Cities Leadership Academy starting Jan. 26; he invited youth and residents to participate and confirmed a stipend will be provided.
Joe Mota, director of power building at Lift to Rise, told the Coachella Youth Advisory Commission that the organization is coordinating cities, the county, developers and community groups to increase affordable‑housing supply in the Coachella Valley.
"Our goal is to reduce rent burden in the Coachella Valley by 30% through the production of 10,000 affordable housing units by 2028," Mota said, and he added that current pipeline and financing efforts are intended to accelerate production.
Mota provided program metrics: more than 9,300 units in the pipeline across 90+ projects, over 2,000 units under construction or breaking ground this year, and 952 affordable units moving into construction on Dec. 31 — the most local activity in recent years, he said. He also described a blended public–private 'We Live Catalyst' fund: "We have a 1,200 units sparked across 11 projects by loan products from the catalyst funds totaling $41,000,000," Mota said, and he estimated roughly $300,000,000 in private and public leverage.
He invited commissioners and youth to join Lift to Rise's Communities by Cities (CBC) Leadership Academy, a monthly resident leadership training that begins Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. at the library and runs through June; Mota said sessions will include dinner and a stipend on program completion.
Commissioners asked logistical questions about attendance and stipends; Mota confirmed participants will receive dinner at sessions and a completion stipend. He encouraged youth participation and local partnerships with small businesses and community groups.
The presentation focused on outreach and capacity building rather than new city policy; Mota framed the academy as a way to build resident power to influence local housing decisions and broader neighborhood issues.
