May 5, 2026 – Oakland, CA
Merritt Community Capital Corporation, a nonprofit affordable housing investor and lender, has been named the 2026 Partner in Community Development by Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California (NPH).
This achievement recognizes Merritt’s workforce development initiative, Commitment to Community (C2C), for its measurable impact and collaborative approach to strengthening California’s affordable housing ecosystem.
Presented as part of the NPH Affordable Housing Leadership Awards, the Partner in Community Development category honors partnerships that drive meaningful local and regional impact across the affordable housing industry.
Last week, Merritt was recognized at NPH’s 30th Annual Affordable Housing Leadership Awards ceremony in San Francisco, where Ari Beliak, President & CEO, and Celina Pacana, Impact Manager, accepted the award on behalf of the organization. Members of Merritt’s Board, staff, and several Merritt Scholars were also in attendance to celebrate this milestone.
“Addressing the housing crisis requires more than capital—it requires sustained investment in people,” said Ari Beliak, President & CEO of Merritt. “Through C2C, we are building a stronger, more resilient workforce equipped to create and preserve affordable housing for the long term. We are honored to be recognized by NPH, alongside our friends and partners, working toward a shared vision to build thriving communities.”
Since 2022, C2C has fostered strong, cross-sector partnerships across the affordable housing community. Through a range of workforce development programs, including internships, fellowships, and leadership training, C2C holistically invests in people, housing, and policy—strengthening the talent pipeline needed to build, operate, and sustain affordable homes while creating meaningful careers.
In addition to in-house programs such as Merritt Scholars and Asset Management Specialist Training (AMS+), C2C invests in mission-driven partners, including LISC’s HDTI, NPH’s BAHIP and ELPN, CHP’s Equity Policy Fellowship, SDHF’s property management training, and CCRH’s internship program.
As part of C2C’s commitment, Merritt provides flexible, multi-year funding that allows partners to focus on scaling impact rather than fundraising—and to respond to real-time challenges. This flexibility reflects Merritt’s big-picture approach to partnership—meeting organizations where they are with creative, impact-driven solutions.
Unlike traditional workforce programs that focus on a single career stage, C2C offers a comprehensive pathway that attracts, trains, and retains talent across the affordable housing industry. Over the past three years, C2C has supported more than 1,500 participants, with 68% identifying as having lived experience with poverty or housing instability—underscoring Merritt’s commitment to long-term community impact.
“C2C is rooted in the belief that lasting housing solutions are driven by people,” said Celina Pacana, Merritt’s Impact Manager. “By creating accessible pathways into the industry and investing in leadership development across career stages, we’re not only strengthening today’s workforce—we’re building the foundation to create a lasting impact.”
By equipping future leaders with the tools, mentorship, and networks needed to succeed, C2C helps ensure that affordable housing developments are not only built—but sustained—for generations to come.
To stay updated with Merritt news and announcements, please visit the Merritt LinkedIn page.
About Merritt Community Capital Corporation
Merritt Community Capital Corporation is a mission-oriented affordable housing funder that serves the state of California. For more than 35 years, Merritt has been a trusted partner, investing more than $1.7 billion and creating over 12,500 affordable homes across California. Beyond investing in properties, Merritt invests in people. Through its Commitment to California initiative (C2C), Merritt proudly spearheads programs across the state that attract, train, and retain current and future affordable housers.
Merritt is also the west coast member of the National Association of State and Local Equity Funds (NASLEF), which empowers locally engaged, mission-driven housing and community investment partners to build thriving communities. By partnering with mission-aligned organizations and developers in the affordable housing space, Merritt ensures the most critical communities are developed and maintained for low-income residents.