Submitted by: Nalleli Arango, Community HousingWorks

Located in the heart of Vista’s District 2, Los Robles de Cortez, one of Community HousingWorks affordable housing communities, provides more than 250 low-income residents not only with a place to live, but with the stability and security that comes from having a safe, affordable home. Many of the residents are Spanish-speaking, multi-generational families, and members of underserved minority groups. These residents experience a range of social and economic challenges—including limited access to healthcare, transportation barriers, and educational inequities—that directly affect their quality of life.

Despite strong community pride and resilience, residents frequently encounter unsafe walking conditions. Deteriorating sidewalks, inadequate street lighting, speeding vehicles, and limited pedestrian crossings create daily risks for children walking to school, older adults with mobility needs, and individuals with disabilities. For a community that relies heavily on walking and public transportation, these barriers significantly limit access to essential resources such as grocery stores, medical care, parks, and transit services.

On January 16, 2025, Los Robles de Cortez began its first cohort of the Resident Leadership Academy (RLA), a program that teaches and empowers residents to improve their communities. The RLA is a model developed by the Community Health Improvement Partners (CHIP) that equips residents with the skills, tools, and leadership training needed to identify neighborhood issues and work together to address them effectively. Through a participatory curriculum, participants learned about the social determinants of health, environmental design, community advocacy, policy development, leadership strategies, and the components of safe, walkable community planning.

The training empowered residents to understand how environmental and social conditions impact community health. Participants also learned how to analyze data and assess neighborhood risks, build leadership and public-speaking skills, engage local agencies effectively, and develop sustainable, community-driven solutions.

On March 3, 2025, five residents successfully graduated, marking the first cohort of the RLA at Los Robles. Th

ese new leaders have been committed to improving pedestrian safety, enhancing infrastructure, and increasing resident involvement in community improvement efforts. Their shared mission is to help create a neighborhood that is safer, healthier, and more connected to all of its residents. As a result of these commitments, residents launched Step Into Safety: A Community Push Toward Walkable Neighborhoods.

The RLA had several key components:

1. The community walk audit, where residents walked the neighborhood to identify hazards and gaps in the pedestrian environment.

2. Participation at townhalls and city meetings to speak in front of council members.

3. Attendance at local school meetings.