Thank You For a Successful 2025!
As we close out another impactful year, we’re grateful to our partners, developers, investors, staff, and the entire affordable housing community who help drive our mission.
From every affordable home we create to every future leader we inspire, this important work is possible because of the collective commitment we share.
Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season and a bright start to 2026!
Please note: the Merritt offices will be closed from December 24 to January 2.
Recent Industry Events & Conferences
Congratulations to the City of Huntington Park, Los Angeles County, and A Community of Friends for the recent grand opening of Huntington Square! Merritt is proud to support this new 47-unit affordable and supportive housing community for seniors and veterans in Huntington Park, CA. Special thank you to our Senior Investor Relations Manager, Carla Vásquez-Noriega, for representing Merritt at this celebration!
We are grateful for the opportunity to join House Farm Workers! at their recent forum, where Merritt President & CEO Ari Beliak spoke alongside community leaders and housing partners committed to expanding opportunity for farmworker families. Thank you to House Farm Workers! for hosting an inspiring event—and for your continued leadership in advancing housing equity.
PEOPLE UPDATES
Happy 2-Year Anniversary to Celina Pacana!
Congratulations to our Impact Manager, Celina Pacana, on her two-year anniversary with Merritt! Through Celina’s leadership, C2C’s exponential growth has shaped the future of affordable housing leaders across California. Thank you, Celina, for your dedication and commitment!
Staff Spotlight: Darné Lang, Administrative Assistant
Our newest Staff Spotlight features our exceptional Administrative Assistant, Darné Lang, whose dedication and impact help keep Merritt running smoothly. We’re proud to highlight her story and celebrate the work she does every day. Learn about Darné’s journey here:
Welcome to our Senior Acquisitions Manager, Cristina Gomez!
We’re thrilled to welcome Cristina Gomez (Martinez) as Merritt’s new Senior Acquisitions Manager! Cristina brings more than a decade of experience in affordable housing development and finance. As a former Merritt Scholars mentor, CCRH intern, SOAH mentor, and HDTI graduate, Cristina has been living Merritt’s mission long before joining our team!
Her deep knowledge of our Commitment to California initiative will be invaluable as we continue strengthening California’s affordable housing workforce. Welcome aboard, Cristina!
Thank You For Your Leadership, Pam Daniels-Halisi
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Pam Daniels-Halisi, Managing Director, Community Capital Solutions at BMO, for her exceptional leadership and service on Merritt’s Board.
Pam has been a trusted advisor and a steady voice for the affordable housing industry. Her strategic insight and unwavering commitment have strengthened Merritt’s work and helped guide our mission forward.
We are grateful for the time, energy, and thoughtfulness she has dedicated to Merritt.
Thank you, Pam, for your partnership and dedication to creating thriving communities across California.
Get all the latest Merritt news, updates, and announcements!
About Merritt Community Capital Corporation
As a nonprofit investor and lender in affordable housing, Merritt Community Capital Corporation has invested more than $1.7 billion to create and preserve over 12,500 affordable homes, providing housing for more than 30,000 residents. For over 35 years, Merritt’s mission has remained at the core of its work.
Merritt partners with mission-aligned developers and funders to tackle some of the most challenging and impactful affordable housing projects. Through equity and lending capital, Merritt provides flexible financing solutions designed to meet today’s needs while preserving affordability for the future.
Through its Commitment to Community (C2C) initiative, Merritt extends its impact by investing in people—attracting, training, and retaining the next generation of affordable housing leaders.
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.