September 26, 2023-Oakland, CA
Chione Lucina Muñoz Flegal is the Executive Director of Housing California. With deep expertise on issues of infrastructure, land use, housing, and environmental policy, she works to promote social, economic, and environmental equity through policy change. Chione has over 20 years of experience building coalitions and leading policy campaigns to improve outcomes for low-income communities and communities of color in California.
Chione works in affordable housing because she knows that “safe stable housing is a foundation for individuals and families to thrive. For too many people this most basic need is not being fulfilled and it is having profound impacts on their well-being. This is particularly true for Black and Indigenous people, and other people of color who have been marginalized by racist and discriminatory housing policies and public investments.” Chione shared that she is “excited to work with other leaders who are committed to overcoming these inequities to build a future where every Californian has safe, stable housing. I believe deeply that when we accomplish this, we will all be better off.”
Prior to joining Housing California, Chione was a managing director at PolicyLink, where she led a portfolio of initiatives focused on water, climate, housing, transportation, and equitable fiscal policy in California and beyond. Her work has strengthened California’s housing and equity movements, has contributed to significant statewide policy wins, and has resulted in new and expanded public investments in housing and infrastructure.
Chione has previously worked at Latino Issues Forum where she directed the organization’s environmental health and justice work. She has worked as a consultant for organizations in the United States and abroad including CARE International and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. Chione has served on the Board of Directors at several other state and national organizations including Housing CA, TransForm, the California EDGE Coalition, and Emerald Cities. She has been a member of the climate justice working group for the California Natural Resources Agency and the AB 32 Environmental Justice Advisory Committee for the Air Resources Board.
She holds a master’s degree in city planning with a focus on housing and community development and has a BS in environmental science, policy, and management from the University of California, Berkeley.
“I am excited for Chione Flegal to join our dedicated and engaged Board of Directors,” said Ari Beliak, Merritt’s CEO. “Chione’s perspective as a statewide leader in affordable housing will be pivotal is increasing Merritt’s impact and helping us achieve the vision that everyone has a home in a community where they can thrive.”
About Merritt Community Capital Corporation
Merritt Community Capital Corporation is a nonprofit dedicated to our mission to provide equity capital for affordable housing exclusively to California. We do this by partnering with mission-aligned affordable housing developers throughout the state to ensure the most critical communities are developed and maintained for low-income residents. Since 1989, Merritt has created and/or preserved 11,000 affordable homes, through investing over $1.2 billion in 26 separate funds, providing housing for over 29,700 people.