News
Coachella Valley Housing Coalition Celebrates 40 Years of Helping Low Income Families
“It’s changed my life,” Homeowner Benina Zavala said. “It is an experience that I will never ever forget for the rest of my life.”
Benina Zavala is a 38-year-old single mother.
On November 28th, it will mark her fifth year of becoming a homeowner.
A dream she didn’t think would be possible.
“Five years ago, I was going through a lot of struggles,” Zavala shared. “A divorce, I was living in an apartment complex for over 18 years and I was a mother with three children. I knew I just didn’t want to live in apartments anymore.”
That’s when her brother told her about the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition.
Through their Self-Help Housing Program, Zavala was able to make her dream of becoming a homeowner a reality.
But this didn’t come easy because she had to help build her home from the foundation up.
“I still can’t believe I did it. I was working full time,” she continued. “The rules are you have to put in 40 hours, so it’s like another full time job. There were two shifts. You can either come in the morning or you can come in in the evening. I would get off by 2:30. I would go pick up my kids from school. Then I would grab something to eat, put on my construction clothes and start driving back to Coachella. We shed tears, we shed blood, we sweat our butts off. I am so, so grateful for this opportunity.”
And now, CVHC has been helping thousands of families like Zavala’s for the past 40 years.
“The beauty about this program is a family will only pay what they can afford,” Executive Director of CVHC, Pedro Rodriguez, said. “In the definition of affordable housing, a family should not pay more than 30% of their gross income into affordable housing. So, they have money for food, clothing and transportation for the children. It’s a very good program.”
They also provide a construction supervisor, help administer funds and more.
But this isn’t all they do.
CVHC has childcare centers, after school programs, and even gives out scholarships.
And their work isn’t done.
“We are looking forward to the future,” Rodriguez continued. “We have planned in Mecca, we’re going to build 291 homes. We have planned in Thermal another 200+ homes. So the future looks good for the low income families in the Coachella Valley.”
“You go through a lot of storms,” Zavala shared. “In these five years, I went through so many storms, but the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition, they’re not just some workers, they take the time to hear your story to come to you to help you.”
To donate to CVHC, click here.
For more information on their Self-Help Housing Program, click here.
By: Carmela Karcher
October 12, 2022
Latest Instagram Posts
More than 1,000 runners and walkers took on the “World’s Toughest 6K” at the 39th annual Palm Springs Aerial Tram Road Challenge! 🏃♀️🏃♂️ Cathedral City’s Amelio Chio claimed the overall win in 28:08, while Jade Belzberg took first place in the women’s division with a time of 30:42. Local athletes from across the Coachella Valley also made their mark on the challenging course! #PalmSprings #TramRoadChallenge #CoachellaValley #Running #RoadRace NBCPalmSprings
Who makes the NBC Top 3, winner will be announced Sunday night on NBC Palm Springs, with the player who makes the number one spot winning a $250 prize from @hondaofthedesert! Comment below if it will be 1) Damian Walls extending the play for the TD, 2) Aiden Pope with the 100 yard pick-six, 3) Adam Tremper breaking tackles for the TD, 4) Trey Boulton snagging the contested catch, or 5) Devin Session with the TD throw on the run #hondaofthedesert #fnl #fridaynightlights #fyp #highschoolfootball
We’re in Palm Desert this morning as demonstrators gather for the No Kings rally, joining a nationwide day of protests and calls for political accountability. We’re talking with people at the rally about why they’re here and what they hope their voices will accomplish. Events are taking place across the country, with organizers also encouraging voter participation ahead of the election. Follow NBC Palm Springs for more voices and scenes from today’s rally. #NBCPalmSprings #PalmDesert #NoKings #CoachellaValley #Protest CommunityVoices
We’re in Cathedral City this morning for the No Kings: Vote Early event, joining communities across the country focused on getting voters to the polls. We’re talking with people here about why they came out and what motivated them to participate. Nearly 3,000 events are taking place nationwide to encourage early voting and civic engagement. Stay with NBC Palm Springs for local voices and perspectives from today’s event. #NBCPalmSprings #CathedralCity #NoKings #VoteEarly #CoachellaValley CommunityVoices
“NO KINGS: VOTE EARLY”: Residents gathered at Palm Springs City Hall for the “No Kings: Vote Early” event, sharing what brought them out and why making their voices heard matters. #NoKings #PalmSprings #CoachellaValley #VoteEarly #civicengagement
Meet Gavin, aka “Banana Boy”! The Coachella Valley Firebirds fan favorite stopped by Very Caliente to share how his love of Fortnite inspired his iconic Peely costume — and his signature dance to “Peanut Butter Jelly Time” on the jumbotron. And yes, we finally got to see the face behind the banana! #NBCPalmSprings #VeryCaliente #CVFirebirds #BananaBoy #CoachellaValley
The #NorteFire is spreading near San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente. Fire crews are working to contain the blaze as conditions develop. Stay tuned to NBC Palm Springs for updates. #NorteFire #SouthernCalifornia #Wildfire #SanJuanCapistrano SanClemente NBCPalmSprings
Strong winds are expected across Southern California today, with speeds reaching 25 to 35 mph. Officials warn of possible falling trees, downed power lines and hazardous driving conditions, especially for high-profile vehicles. Southern California Edison says emergency crews will be on standby for possible power outages. If you see a downed power line, stay away and call 911. #SouthernCalifornia #CoachellaValley #WindAdvisory #PowerOutage #SouthernCaliforniaEdison NBCPalmSprings
Sordid Lives is returning to Palm Canyon Theater October 30 through November 15! Playwright Del Shores joins NBC Palm Springs’ Tod Macofsky to talk about the beloved production and its long history in the Coachella Valley. Want to see the show? NBC Palm Springs is giving away two tickets! Enter on the promotions page at NBCPalmSprings.com. #SordidLives #DelShores #PalmCanyonTheater #PalmSprings #CoachellaValley DesertEntertainment NBCPalmSprings
🗣️ NO KINGS DEMONSTRATIONS ARE COMING BACK TO THE COACHELLA VALLEY! Thousands of demonstrations are planned nationwide Saturday, including FIVE right here in the Valley. Organizers say the goal is to help eligible voters prepare for the polls and know their rights. 📍 Events are planned in Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Palm Desert and Indio. Will you be hitting the streets this weekend? 👀 #NoKings #CoachellaValley #PalmSprings #Indio #CaliforniaNews