Year in Review: Reflections, Milestones, and What’s to Come
A look back at 2024 and a preview of the year ahead
A warm welcome to our holiday blog!
It’s been another landmark year for CHOC, across all divisions. In honor of CHOC’s many accomplishments, awards, and press over the past year, we’ve rounded up a reflection of our most noteworthy events to share with you.
On behalf of everyone at CHOC, we extend our heartfelt thanks for helping make this year a success. We deeply appreciate the support of municipalities, construction and finance partners, agencies, fellow nonprofits, and the hundreds of resident families who call our affordable housing communities home.
Join us as we reflect on the achievements of the year in this comprehensive recap.
Grand Openings and New Developments
Monarch Apartment Homes
The grand opening of The Monarch Apartment Homes was everything we had hoped it would be—for our organization, residents, partners, and attendees. On February 22nd, over 100 guests gathered in front of Monarch’s community center to celebrate a new era for 60 working families and affordable multifamily housing in Coachella Valley.
The Palm Springs Post reported on the opening, and the City of Palm Springs shared an Instagram Reel capturing the story. Affordable Housing Finance, NBC Palm Springs, and MultiHousing News also covered the occasion.
The Monarch Apartment Homes | Photo courtesy of Noé Montes
Placita Dolores Huerta
In May, CHOC celebrated the historic grand opening of Placita Dolores Huerta. The 56-unit community, which is named after the legendary labor activist Dolores Huerta, was already fully occupied at the time of the celebration. The opening event garnered significant media attention, including a heartfelt feature in Desert Sun that described the community as nothing short of a “miracle.”
Beyond the headlines, the local nonprofit Lift to Rise shared a moving tribute, highlighting the community impact of this new development. Read their post here.
In August, the voices of Placita Dolores Huerta’s residents took center stage with the release of a powerful video produced by CHOC and Conduit Studios. This short film offered a glimpse into the daily lives of residents, showcasing CHOC Impact’s services that go beyond housing to create thriving communities. Watch the video here.
Grand Opening Celebration of Placita Dolores Huerta | Photo courtesy of Noé Montes
New Developments
In September, CHOC announced an exciting collaboration with Sutter Capital Group and Sacramento County to address the region’s pressing need for affordable housing. This innovative project will transform a former Marriott Residence Inn into a community offering 80% AMI (Area Median Income) units, with 32 of those units designated as permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless residents.
Resident Services and Community Impact
This year, CHOC Community Impact furthered its mission of supporting our resident families through meaningful programs and partnerships.
In February, the Dairy Council of California awarded CHOC Impact a $6,000 grant to strengthen programs that support the needs of youth in affordable housing. CHOC Impact Youth Program Manager Ami Reyes highlighted the impact of this partnership and positive outcomes for CHOC residents through the Dairy Council of California’s YouTube video.
CHOC Community Impact Youth Programming in Partnership with the Dairy Council of California
The partnership continued to unfold in June during National Dairy Month. CHOC’s summer enrichment program kicked off, serving lunches and offering an enrichment curriculum comprised of both academic and emotional learning. Learn more about the grant here.
Meanwhile, CHOC Impact’s first video was released. This heartfelt piece spotlighted the lives of resident youth, families, and seniors, illustrating the breadth of CHOC’s programs and their transformative impact. See the video here.
This effort evolved into CHOC Impact’s inaugural Giving Tuesday fundraising campaign, featuring interviews with residents and staff. The early soft launch, weeks ahead of Giving Tuesday on December 3rd, set the stage for the season of giving.
Recognition and Features in the Press
Awards
In November, CHOC Community Impact, in partnership with the Yolo Community Foundation, proudly received the Yolo Voter Education Grant.
This initiative, funded by the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund and Yolo County, supports voter education across 19 of CHOC’s affordable housing communities in Yolo County. In the weeks leading up to the election, CHOC Impact distributed materials, hosted events, and provided resources like flyers and postcards with QR codes to ensure residents know when, where, and how to vote. This effort aligns with California’s Voter’s Choice Act, promoting greater accessibility and participation in the democratic process.
In 2024 CHOC is proud to celebrate our PR firm, The Hoyt Organization, which won three (3) awards for elevating CHOC’s affordable housing stories in Coachella Valley: the Award of Distinction from The Communicator Awards, the Hermes Creative Award, and the Integrated Campaign award from PRSA Los Angeles.
Podcasts and Op-Eds
CHOC’s leadership took to the airways and news pages to advocate for more affordable housing solutions in California and beyond. Chief Strategy Officer Joy Silver shared her insights on The Registry’s Real Perspectives podcast in April, diving into the challenges and rewards of our work and her vision for the future of housing with Vladimir Bosanac, co-founder and publisher of the podcast.
Joy’s thought leadership expanded to an op-ed in the Sacramento Business Times, presenting the case for affordable housing and sparking meaningful dialogue among industry leaders.
Additionally, James Mowdy, CHOC’s Director of Corporate Communications, and Leeza Hoyt, APR, President of The Hoyt Organization, appeared on the Public Relations Global Network podcast. Their discussion highlighted the importance of a collaborative team of consultants working together to deliver impactful storytelling, manage media relations, and maintain consistent branding across all platforms.
CHOC Communications in action at the Monarch Apartment Homes, working to deliver impactful storytelling of milestone events | Photo courtesy of Noé Montes
Looking Ahead to 2025
As we reflect on an incredible year, CHOC remains committed to building inclusive communities through affordable housing, impactful partnerships, and innovative programs. While 2024 was filled with milestones, it also set the stage for even greater opportunities in the year ahead.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
Together, we’ll make 2025 another year of progress, connection, and impact.
Founded in 1984, Community Housing Opportunities Corporation (CHOC) is a non-profit affordable housing developer, energy, services and property management provider headquartered in Fairfield, CA; we create and manage equitable communities for individuals, families, seniors, and those with special needs. CHOC believes that economically integrated affordable housing is key to self-sufficiency and achievable with enriching, supportive programs that instill pride in residents, stabilize families, and improve local economies. Visit CHOCHousing.org.