Commitment to California
To Strengthen the next generation
Originally launched in 2022 to educate, train, and retain current and future housing professionals via scholarships, internships, career development, and innovative engagement. We know that solving the affordable housing crisis requires significant investments in the next generation of affordable housers, who will change the future of our state. Focusing on equity, diversity, and inclusion in the industry by collaborating with partners and creating new opportunities for our future affordable housing leaders is fundamental to building a better California for all.
In our second year, we were thrilled to continue supporting partner organization programs, expand Merritt Scholars, and launch the first Asset Management Specialist+ Cohort! As Commitment to California grows, we are excited to support different career areas of affordable housing including development, finance, asset management, project management, policy, and property management. In 2023, with the addition of our new programs, we had over 500 Commitment to California participants with 54% identifying as BIPOC or have lived experience in affordable housing and/or homelessness.
“Merritt’s Commitment to California is anchored in our support for organizations who have paved the way in empowering the next generation of affordable housing leaders. We are proud to partner with them in the larger goal of making the industry more representative of the communities we serve, as we all work to ensure everyone has a home in a community where they can thrive.”
Merritt Scholars
Asset Management Training
Housing development Training institute participants
Internships and Professional Development Programs
Merritt scholars
Merritt Scholars 2023-2024 had 20 scholars, the biggest cohort to date!
Merritt Scholars was launched to attract the next generation of affordable housing finance and development professionals. Scholars are matched wtih mentors, attend conferences for exposure to the industry, networking opportunities, and post-graduation support.
In our 2023-2024 cohort, 85% identify as BIPOC and/or have lived experience in affordable housing/homelessness and 60% attend a Cal State. From our 2022-2023 cohort, 14 of our 16 scholars have secured jobs in the affordable housing field.
Congrats to all of our scholars!
Merritt Asset Manager Specialist+ Cohort
We were excited to launch a new Asset Manager cohort in 2023! Participants went through virtual and live instructor-led sessions utilizing the Consortium for Housing and Asset Management (CHAM) education training materials.
Participants had the opportunity to get their AMS designation from CHAM, learn about an asset management career, be involved in working groups and discussions, and have networking opportunities. We are excited to expand this program in 2024!
Housing Development training institute
We are thrilled to continue to partner with LISC and California Housing Partnership (CHP) to support and expand HDTI, allowing three times as many participants. This consequential program trains project managers at non-profit affordable developers and is the only one like it in the state of California. It is an intensive one-year training program to provide project managers with the wide range of expertise necessary to develop affordable housing. We are committed to supporting the success of the affordable housing industry and this is the program to do that.
Statewide professional development programs
Merritt proudly supports internships and career development programs across the state that foster diverse leaders and strives to create equity throughout the industry. By contributing to the future of California we are building opportunities to create more equitable representation, leading to a stronger, more diverse, industry. We are providing financial support to Housing CA, Non-Profit Housing Association, CCRH, SCANPH, San Diego Housing Federation, and California Housing Partnership to support programs across the state that will strengthen the affordable housing industry.
I really appreciate Merritt’s dedication to professionally developing the next generation of housing leaders. The Bay Area Housing Internship Program (BAHIP) provides ongoing programming for our early career housers to ensure they can navigate this industry with the soft skills, hard skills, and networks they need to be change-makers in this industry. It is so important to have a program that supports and encourages students of color representing the communities we serve, and we are all the more grateful to Merritt for being an amazing partner in this work!”
California Coalition for Rural Housing Internship (CCRH)
“CCRH deeply values our partnership with Merritt Community Capital. Beyond providing funding, Merritt is a thought partner in developing and supporting BIPOC leaders in the affordable housing field, including rural areas. Thank you for collaborating with us to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in rural affordable housing.”
San Diego Housing Federation School of Affordable Housing
