Dr. Ruiz Helps Secure $6 Million Federal Grant for Coachella Valley Housing Coalition

Coachella Valley, CA – Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) and the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition (CVHC) announced a $6 million U.S. Department of Agriculture grant award that will go toward the construction of safe, affordable homes in underserved communities in Riverside County as well as neighboring Imperial County. The announcement comes after Dr. Ruiz advocated for CVHC's application to the USDA-Rural Development Section 523 Self-Help Technical Assistance Grant program in February 2020.

"I am thrilled to bring home $6 million to expand access to affordable housing for my constituents," Dr. Ruiz said. "Access to affordable housing is essential to the health and well-being of our community. Thanks to the dedication of the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition, this significant financial award will make a true difference in the lives of the residents who will ultimately have a new place to call home. I look forward to continuing to work with CVHC to bring additional affordable housing to our communities."

"Coachella Valley Housing Coalition is delighted to secure the much-needed USDA investment in our self-help single family program," CVHC CEOAlice Salinas said. "The funds allow us to support the local economy as well as bring new homeownership opportunities to families that do not qualify for conventional mortgage financing. It is truly a community empowering experience."

Background:

The USDA-Rural Development Section 523 Mutual Self-Help Technical Assistance Grant provides funding to qualified organizations to help them carry out local self-help housing construction projects.

In February 2020, Dr. Ruiz supported CVHC's application to the program, advocating on behalf of the organization in a letter to Acting Single-Family Housing Program Director Stephen Nnodim. You can read his letter here.

About the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition:

Since 1982, CVHC has worked to meet its main objective to build affordable housing in areas where the needs of farmworkers and low-income families are not being met. CVHC is one of the largest self-help housing developers in the country and has constructed nearly 2,000 homes through the USDA Mutual Self-Help Program so far.

###