HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 1Q73-710 Fred Waring Drive, Suite 100, Palm Desert, CA 92260 | lifttorise.org
RE: APPROVE CONTRACT SERVICES AGREEMENT NO. 23P188 WITH NEIGHBORHOOD
PARTNERSHIP HOUSING SERVICES, INC., FOR CDBG HOME REHABILITATION PROGRAM
Dear Mayor Garner, Mayor Pro Tem Bernstein, and distinguished council members,
Lift to Rise would like to express our strong support for the authorization of a contract services
agreement with Neighborhood Partnership Servies for the CDBG Home Rehabilitation Program in
the Palm Springs community. These initiatives play a crucial role in improving the quality of life for
our residents and revitalizing our neighborhoods. Investing in home rehabilitation programs is not
just a matter of improving physical structures but also a commitment to enhancing the well -being
of our community members.
Home rehabilitation programs help preserve affordable housing options for low and moderate -
income families. Per the principal objectives of the CDBFG, low to moderate income families have
much to gain from these program types. By ensuring that existing homes remain safe and
habitable, we prevent displacement and maintain socioeconomic diversity within our
neighborhoods. Rehabilitating homes can also lead to an increase in property values, benefiting
homeowners and the overall community. This increase in property values can attract further
investments and contribute to generation wealth for families.
Moreover, by addressing structural deficiencies and safety hazards in homes, these programs
help promote the health and safety of our residents. Rehabilitating existing homes is often more
environmentally friendly than demolishing and rebuilding new structures. It reduces waste and
energy consumption while preserving the unique character of the communities.
Renovated homes also often serve as catalysts for additional improvements, such as improved
infrastructure, better schools, and increased economic opportunities therefore stimulating
growth. This, in turn, has a positive ripple effect on the entire community.
For these reasons, supporting home rehabilitation programs is not just a wise investment but also
a moral imperative. It allows us to strengthen our community, provide safe and affordable
housing, and promote overall well-being. We urge the city council to continue and expand these
programs to ensure that our community thrives.
Lift to Rise was formed to transform the systems that generate supply of affordable housing,
recognizing that the combination of low wages and high housing costs are the root causes of
financial precarity among Coachella Valley residents. Our focus on economic mobility helps drive
this work.
Together with over 60 cross-sector partners, including the City of Palm Springs, we have
coordinated a shared goal of reducing the regional housing cost burden at a population level
through the production of 10,000 units of affordable housing in the Coachella Valley by 2028.
We are operating off a shared Action Plan which spans 5 key strategy areas:
1.Aggregating a pipeline of community-prioritized projects across the valley,
2.Growing a regional Housing Catalyst fund to spur production,
3.Advocating at the local, state, and federal level for policies and regulatory changes that
support housing production in our region,
09/14/2023
Public Comment
Item 1Q
73-710 Fred Waring Drive, Suite 100, Palm Desert, CA 92260 | lifttorise.org
4. Engaging and mobilizing residents and elected officials in support of affordable housing,
and
5. Keeping residents housed through a coordinated eviction prevention strategy.
We stand ready as a collaborative to support the city to increase economic mobility and security.
We thank the City of Palm Springs for their efforts in joining us in the work of affordable housing
and building economic stability thus far and urge the City Council to continue to prioritize
practices that ensure all residents are healthy, stable, and thriving.
Thank you for your time.
Lift to Rise
09/14/2023
Public Comment
Item 1Q