Early in 2009, PUCDC initiated a new model of community work that has, as a primary focus, the support for community driven projects and self-initiative towards building a healthy environment for families and children. PUCDC’s main assets are its strong and well-established community relationships, which constitute a long term commitment to improving the quality of life; technical expertise in proposing viable solutions; and a strong spirit of collaboration with other community based organizations.
Rural Habitat is Pueblo Unido CDC’s community driven core philosophy and catalyst in bringing partnerships and collaborative efforts for innovative ideas centered around provision of housing that are both flexible and sustainable. PUCDC has been able to utilize its community base to promote and strengthen collaborative efforts in achieving this feat.
The Polanco Rehabilitation Assistance Program (PRAP) provides technical assistance in all aspects of project management and rehabilitation; and the Rural Communities Infrastructure Fund (RCIF) provides financial assistance for capital improvement. These programs are critical to ensure that Polanco communities have access to infrastructure resources with the goal of achieving compliance with housing codes and regulations.
The Rural Infrastructure Program provides viable solutions to access alternative and cost effective infrastructure. Focused on cost effective solutions primarily point-of-entry and point-of- use filtration systems to remove arsenic and fluoride. These systems have been implemented in the Eastern Coachella Valley while maintaining a community centered approach when identifying new systems.
Community Economic Development promote environments charged with vitality, resources and investment to strengthen the fabric of communities. PUCDC focuses on projects that leverage investment, offer new resources and opportunities for sustainability, and most importantly have been identified by community leaders as sustainable and viable solutions.
This new and innovative project addresses the urgent need for affordable housing for agricultural and low-income families in the Coachella Valley. Due to a lack of options, many of these families live in substandard conditions with limited access to essential services like healthcare and transportation. The Rural Habitat Housing Project is a new affordable housing concept currently under design aimed to provide alternative cost-effective, and energy efficient farmworker housing in the eastern Coachella Valley
Pueblo Unido CDC responds to the needs and concerns of underrepresented rural communities of the Eastern Coachella Valley through actively engaging and fostering collaborative efforts among residents and other stakeholders to find viable solutions, leverage critical resources, and bring new opportunities to improve the quality of life for its residents.