Merritt Scholars

Merritt is dedicated to building opportunities for more representation within the affordable housing industry.

As a core component of Merritt’s Commitment to California (C2C) initiative, the Merritt Scholars program is a unique career development offering that is one-of-a-kind in the state of California. This program serves as an entry point into the affordable housing industry, giving students a chance to explore a wide range of career and growth opportunities. Started in 2009, the Merritt Scholars program was developed to inspire the next generation of industry professionals to inspire the next generation of housing leaders to build a stronger California.

In the last three years, the Merritt Scholars Program has had 56 scholars, 75% of those who have actively pursued a career in the affordable housing industry. Many of these scholars have a personal lived experience, inspiring them to pursue a career that will have a lasting impact on future generations.

The Merritt Scholars program includes a $10,000 scholarship for undergraduate and graduate students. Students have the opportunity to learn more about the affordable housing field through experienced mentors, fully paid attendance at local and statewide industry conferences, and engagement with industry leaders.

At the conclusion of the program, Merritt actively assists scholars with obtaining a job in the affordable housing field. We’re proud to invest in a meaningful and rewarding program that collectively helps us move toward a shared goal of ensuring that everyone has a home in a community where they can thrive.

Questions about Merritt Scholars or the application process?
Email Merritt’s Program Manager, Celina Pacana, at cpacana@merrittcap.org