Help Us Lower the Paywall to California’s Coastal Access
We are a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit dedicated to preserving and creating affordable overnight accommodations so everyone can stay by the ocean.
The Problem
Priced Out of Our Public Treasure
Over 30,000 affordable overnight accommodations have been lost in coastal California over the last 50 years. Meanwhile, the cost of luxury stays has risen faster than inflation every single year.
At the same time, public options such as State Park campsites are immediately booked the moment they become available, leaving families and individuals with few affordable choices for coastal stays. Agencies like the California State Parks, California Coastal Commission, and California Coastal Conservancy have recognized this challenge for decades but the loss of affordable lodging continues.
The result?
Urban youth, working families, and inland residents often never get the chance to visit the ocean at all. This is not just about recreation it’s about access, inclusion, and the right to experience California’s natural heritage.
Why It Matters
Who is Being Left Behind?
Some might call this a “first world problem.” We see it differently.
The California coast belongs to everyone, not just those who can afford high-end accommodations. When access to the coastline becomes a privilege of wealth, we lose part of what makes California special, a shared connection to nature, freedom, and community.
Affordable lodging along the coast supports education, family bonding, environmental stewardship, and local economies. By restoring these opportunities, we strengthen California’s cultural and environmental legacy.
Our Mission
Reclaiming Coastal Access for Everyone
At California Affordable Lodging Solutions (CALS), a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit, we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to experience California’s iconic coastline no matter their income. For decades, the number of affordable overnight accommodations along the coast has been steadily disappearing, replaced by luxury destinations that most Californians can’t afford. Our mission is simple: to protect, restore, and expand access to affordable short-term lodging so that future generations can continue to enjoy the ocean’s beauty.
Our Approach
Advocacy strength
Collaborative approach
Educate
Mobilize
Our Programs
Opening the Coast to Everyone
Every mile of California’s coastline tells a story of possibility. As a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit, we are the architects of access, transforming barriers into bridges for communities long overlooked.
Development of Lower-Cost Overnight Accommodations
Development of Lower-Cost Overnight Accommodations
CALS will serve as a developer and facilitator of financially accessible, environmentally sustainable, and community-rooted lodging options along California’s coastal zones. These accommodations will not be residential housing but rather short-term, visitor-serving overnight facilities that promote economic and physical access to coastal resources.
Preservation of Existing Affordable Lodging Inventory
Preservation of Existing Affordable Lodging Inventory
Research, Education, and Public Awareness
Research, Education, and Public Awareness
Support for Tangential Public Benefit Programs
Support for Tangential Public Benefit Programs
While the development and preservation of coastal lodging is our primary focus, we may also support tangential programs that align with our broader goals of public access, community wellness, and sustainability.
Development Support
Development Support
Donate Money
Every contribution matters in our mission to preserve coastal access
We are a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit and all donations are 100% tax deductible. We are happy to provide our determination letter on request for donors.
Donate Property
- In addition to financial support, we can also accept donations of land, buildings, trucks, stocks, and other assets.
- Your gift of appreciated financial stock, property, or other assets not only helps us create high social impact outcomes as part of our mission, but also may help you offset current tax liability.
- And if you can't donate, now, please consider naming CALS in your will or trust so we can honor your legacy with high impact projects for social good.
Our Team
An all-star team of leaders redefining affordable coastal access. CALS is powered by professionals with unmatched experience across affordable lodging, hospitality, real estate, law, finance, policy, and nonprofit leadership.
Doug Higgins
President / Board Member
Doug Higgins
Andrew Swerdloff
COO / Board Member
Andrew Swerdloff
Andrew Swerdloff is Co-Founder and former COO of Stay Open, where he led the creation of the first public-private partnership with state agencies to build affordable coastal lodging. With more than 15 years in real estate, hospitality, and private equity, Andrew has delivered over $750 million in hotels, multifamily, and mixed-use projects, raised $300 million in equity and debt, and owns a 500-unit multifamily portfolio. An Emory University graduate fluent in Mandarin, he brings proven development, entitlement, and operational expertise to CALS’s mission of making the California coast accessible for all.
Penny Maus
Board Member
Penny Maus
Penny is Founder & CEO of propertyworx LLC and former Director of Real Estate for the City of San Diego and Real Estate Department Manager for the Port of San Diego. She also serves as President of Lambda Alpha International (San Diego Chapter) and on the Urban Land Institute San Diego–Tijuana Advisory Board. Penny’s public-sector experience and collaborative approach make her instrumental in advancing CALS’s strategic partnerships and turning coastal policy into real, community-serving projects.
Jennifer Litwak
Board Member
Jennifer Litwak
David Goldberg
Board Member
David Goldberg
Help Us Keep
the Coast for All
The California coast is a public trust. This is a mission worth supporting. Your help is essential to ensure that future generations of all backgrounds can build a personal connection to our state's most precious resource.
Affordable Lodging for All Californians
Affordable Lodging for All Californians
Affordable Lodging for All Californians