2026 Strategic Outlook
A Note From Our President & CEO: Ari Beliak
As we look ahead to the rest of 2026, I’m proud of how far Merritt has come — and energized by where we’re going. Our impact continues to grow, and in 2026, our investments, lending, and workforce development programs will reflect this momentum.
2026 is about growth with purpose. We are deepening our impact, expanding our reach, and evolving to meet our affordable housing communities where they are — while staying grounded in our mission and core values that have guided us for more than three decades.
The work ahead is ambitious. So is our commitment. None of which would be possible without the support and guidance of our investors, developers, community partners, our Board, and our staff. Thank you for supporting Merritt’s journey. I invite you to read my full announcement to find out what’s next for Merritt!
With gratitude,
Recent Industry Events
2026 Annual Housing CA Conference
Thank you to Housing CA for hosting another successful annual conference! From participating in key panels to networking with our partners and friends in the affordable housing community, Merritt enjoyed being a part of this year’s event.
Pictured: Izaac Bailon, Celina Pacana, Cristina Gomez, Ari Beliak, Rebecca Mauerer, Amanda Hopkins, Pavlin Buchukov
Recent Property Closings & News
Orchard View II: Gridley, CA
Congratulations to The Pacific Companies on Orchard View II, located in Gridley, California. As a new construction project that will house 36 households in rural Butte County, this project follows the successful completion of Orchard View’s first phase, completed last year with Merritt as its equity investor as well.
Merritt is proud to support this project by providing $4.4M in tax equity. Thank you to our partners at Banc of California and the City of Gridley for making this project possible!
The Cielo: Grand Opening Ceremony
Congratulations to LAFHBuilds and LA Family Housing on the recent grand opening of
The Cielo!
This new permanent supportive housing community brings 99 homes to life through prefabricated modular construction and is one of five new developments funded through a $40 million City of Los Angeles HHH Innovation Challenge Award to LAFHBuilds, Abode Communities, and Mercy Housing to advance modular projects throughout the city.
Merritt Community Capital Corporation is proud to support this impactful project. A special thank you to our Associate Director of Acquisitions, David Eisenman, for representing Merritt at this celebration!
Commitment to Community (C2C):
2026-2027 Merritt Scholars Applications Open Through April 30!
Play a key role in building the next generation by helping us find future leaders in affordable housing! The Merritt Scholars program supports emerging talent by offering:
✅ A $10,000 scholarship for undergraduate and graduate students
✅ Peer collaboration and direct access to industry leaders
✅ One-on-one mentorship
✅ Fully funded attendance at key industry conferences
✅ Leadership development to build your competitive edge
We are looking for strong candidates to join our 2026-2027 cohort. If you know of early-career professionals in your network, please encourage them to submit an application!
Participate in the 2026 Job Demand Study
The future of affordable housing depends on a strong, well-equipped workforce. Having current industry data is critical to learning about which jobs and skill sets are needed in today’s market.
Merritt’s 2026 Job Demand Study survey is still open! Your insights will help guide how we shape our C2C programs – this is your opportunity to share what you know.
Get all the latest Merritt news, updates, and announcements!
“To have a decent place to live is a basic human right.”
— Former President Jimmy Carter
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.