CHOC Leadership Perspectives: Heather Vaikona, President & CEO of Lift to Rise
The second in our Leadership Perspective series features Heather Vaikona of Lift to Rise, a nonprofit organization working to advance affordable housing, fair wages, and economic mobility in the Coachella Valley and beyond. As President and CEO of the organization, Vaikona is one of the region’s most influential voices.
Vaikona founded Lift to Rise in 2018 with the conviction that the Valley could, and must, reimagine how affordable housing gets built. From the very beginning, she understood that no single organization could solve the housing crisis alone. What was needed was a bold, collective strategy that aligned community leaders, policymakers, developers, and residents behind one shared North Star: a thriving Coachella Valley where everyone has a place to call home.
“Our vision at Lift to Rise is to realize a future where all Coachella Valley families are healthy, stable, and thriving,” Vaikona told CHOC. “We have a concrete goal to reduce rent burden by 30% and radically increase the supply of housing by 10,000 units.”
The same year Lift to Rise was founded – 2018 – the organization deepened its connection with Community Housing Opportunities Corporation (CHOC). For CHOC, the commitment to housing began over 40 years ago, growing from a small, local vision in Davis, California, into a leading statewide force for families, seniors, individuals, and people with special needs. As a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO), CHOC has long championed very low-, low-, and moderate-income households, providing thousands with safe, stable homes.
Heather Vaikona speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for The Monarch Apartment Homes in Palm Springs, CA
“We don’t do housing work because we care about housing. We do housing work because we care about people, and we love people,” said Vaikona. That’s the same ethos that drives our work at CHOC.
The primary difference between the two organizations? Lift to Rise works at the systems level – building coalitions, solving structural bottlenecks, and accelerating regional plans. CHOC, on the other hand, works on the ground, developing and stewarding affordable communities with integrated expertise in construction, energy, property management, and resident services.
Together, these roles form two halves of the same mission: one clearing the path, one building the homes.
The partnership between CHOC and Lift to Rise has been deeply human. Vaikona has stood with CHOC at pivotal moments, including the groundbreaking ceremonies of both Monarch Apartment Homes in Palm Springs and Placita Dolores Huerta in Coachella. Two years after opening, residents in both communities are thriving – living proof of what becomes possible when organizations with a shared purpose take action forward together.
Heather Vaikona speaking about housing as a human right at the groundbreaking ceremony for Placita Dolores Huerta in Coachella, CA
“There is no future that doesn’t require housing at the middle of it,” Vaikona said. “What we’ve learned in these 10 years is that when we choose to invite and include everyone to have line of sight, anything is possible.”
As CHOC enters a new chapter to strengthen its team, expand its presence through its Palm Springs office, and deepen its long-term commitment to the Coachella Valley, Heather’s leadership story offers inspiration, clarity, and affirmation.
Like Lift to Rise, CHOC continues to innovate, partner, and open new doors every day. And like Heather, CHOC understands that leadership in this work is not about taking the spotlight. It’s about stewardship, courage, and the unwavering belief in a more equitable future.
Together, Lift to Rise and CHOC demonstrate what can happen when leaders choose collaboration over competition and when organizations align around a shared calling. Our partnership stands as a testament to what is possible when we rise — boldly, intentionally, and together.
Deep thanks to Heather and Celeste Flores, Lift To Rise Associate Director of Policy and Research. Special thanks to Conduit Studios LLC's Jóhann Schram Reed and Ted Pickell. These videos are produced by Conduit Studios in collaboration with CHOC.
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. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, The Circle.