February, 2025–Oakland, CA
Lily Keefauver is a 2024-2025 Merritt Scholar at UC San Diego studying for her B.A. in Urban Studies and Planning. She is currently a Research Intern at the Homelessness Hub.
- Why did you apply to Merritt Scholars?
I applied to Merritt Scholars because of the opportunities that it provided to engage with industry professionals in the affordable housing field. I wanted to be involved in the housing world and didn’t know how or where to start, so Merritt felt like a perfect fit.
- What drew you to the affordable housing field? Or, why do you want to work in affordable housing?
I want to work in the affordable housing field because it provides a prevention and intervention method for addressing homelessness. Most of my work so far has been involved in research, and I want to be part of the solutions needed nationally to address the homelessness crisis.
- What interests you about working in affordable housing?
I am interested in all the different hats one can wear in the affordable housing industry. I like that a project combines development, finance, community engagement, services, and so much more. I like that no project or job is the same, and how the industry prioritizes problem solving and collaboration.
- What are some of your career goals or areas of interest that you would like to explore in your career?
I want to explore the development and property management side of affordable housing, as well as services. I want to work in positions that allow me to engage with residents directly and also see what goes on in the backend of what it takes to get a project completed.
- What’s been a favorite part about Merritt Scholars?
My favorite part about Merritt Scholars has been the mentorship aspect. Having an industry mentor has been invaluable in navigating my interests and how to approach my professional goals. I have also really enjoyed meeting other scholars: it’s very sweet being excited together and sharing in the experiences Merritt brings.
Congratulations and thank you for sharing your experience, Lily! We are excited to have you in the affordable housing industry!
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 12, 000 affordable homes, through investing over $1.6 billion, providing housing for over 30,000people.