Ian Gabriel, Executive Director of Lift To Rise, joins Healthy Desert Healthy You host Will Dean to discuss the Coachella Valley’s affordable housing crisis and why stable housing is essential to community health. Gabriel explains how Lift To Rise and more than 70 regional partners are working toward 10,000 affordable housing units by 2028, while addressing funding gaps, infrastructure needs, homeownership, and resident leadership. He also explores the Housing First model, the connection between housing stability and better health outcomes, and why teachers, healthcare workers, hospitality employees, farmworkers, and other working families need affordable options. Gabriel previews his participation in the 2026 Healthy Desert Healthy You Summit and emphasizes that lasting progress requires coordinated action from residents, nonprofits, government, healthcare, funders, and the broader community, working together strategically.

Takeaways:

• Affordable housing strengthens community health and stability.
• Lift To Rise targets 10,000 affordable homes.
• Housing costs burden many working Coachella Valley families.
• Housing First supports better long-term health outcomes.
• Funding barriers limit affordable housing development locally.
• Infrastructure remains essential for expanding housing opportunities.
• Resident leadership strengthens advocacy and community solutions.
• Regional collaboration can create lasting housing progress.

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