You’re Invited to Our 2026 Partners Celebration!
Join us for the 2026 Merritt Partners Celebration! Mix and mingle with friends and colleagues, enjoy great food, and celebrate another year of meaningful partnerships and shared successes.
This annual gathering is our opportunity to come together and recognize the people and partnerships that make our work possible. We look forward to celebrating all we’ve accomplished together—and enjoying a fun evening with our affordable housing community!
Commitment to Community (C2C):
Merritt Named a Semifinalist in 2026 Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge
We’re honored to share that Merritt has been selected as one of 39 semifinalists for the 2026 Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge! Through a partnership between Wells Fargo and Enterprise, the Breakthrough Challenge celebrates and supports proven ideas that help create more affordable housing across the country.
A special thank you to all our partners who supported our application:
Eden Housing
Abode Communities
A Community of Friends
Burbank Housing
EAH Housing
Fresno Housing
Mercy Housing
MidPen Housing
Mutual Housing
National CORE
People’s Self-Help Housing
Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency
Self-Help Enterprises
The John Stewart Company
Lastly, congratulations to our fellow semifinalists! We’re proud to be among such an inspiring group of organizations working toward a future where more people have access to a safe and affordable home.
Scholar Spotlight: Laura Walton
We’re excited to spotlight Merritt Scholar Laura Walton, whose pathway to affordable housing has been shaped by different places, disciplines, and experiences. Her story reflects a deep curiosity about how housing, economic development, and community come together to create lasting impact.
We’re proud to support Laura and all of our Merritt Scholars as they grow, lead, and help drive the future of affordable housing.
People Updates
Happy Anniversary to Laura Quintanilla, Amanda Hopkins, and Rodrigo Ramos!
Laura Quintanilla, Operations Manager (4 Years)
Over the past four years, Laura has become an essential part of the Merritt team, helping keep our organization running smoothly and ensuring our staff have the support, systems, and resources they need to do their best work. Thank you, Laura, for your thoughtfulness and willingness to jump in wherever needed!
Amanda Hopkins, Senior Asset Manager (4 Years)
As our Senior Asset Manager, Amanda helps ensure our portfolio and partnerships remain strong. Her thoughtful approach and commitment to working alongside our developers, property managers, and investors play an important role in supporting the affordable housing communities at the heart of our work. Thank you, Amanda, for all that you do!
Rodrigo Ramos, Assistant Asset Manager (2 Years)
As Assistant Asset Manager, Rodrigo plays an important role in supporting our portfolio and the long-term health of affordable housing communities we invest in. We’re grateful for the dedication Rodrigo brings to his work and our team each day. Thank you, Rodrigo, for two great years with Merritt!
Thank You for Your Service!
Please join us in extending a heartfelt thank you to Gina Leon for nine years of dedication on Merritt’s Board of Directors!
Gina’s tremendous leadership, guidance, and stewardship were invaluable in enabling Merritt’s recent growth and her commitment to our mission has helped position the organization for continued success. Thank you, Gina!
Thank You for Your Service!
We are proud to recognize Gisela Salgado for her dedicated service on Merritt’s Board of Directors!
As Head of External Partnerships at California Coalition for Rural Housing (CCRH), Gisela has brought a deep personal commitment to supporting the people and policies that enable affordable housing in California.
We are grateful to Gisela for the time and expertise she has generously shared with Merritt and our communities!
Merritt is Hiring!
Our leadership team is growing, and we’re looking for two experienced, mission-driven affordable housing professionals to join us!
Director of Investor Relations: This hands-on, growth-oriented role will lead Merritt’s Investor Relations team and deepen relationships with current and prospective investors.
Director of Asset Management: As a strategic leader, this individual will oversee our Asset Management team and portfolio, balancing performance, risk management, and compliance while partnering closely with investors, developers, property managers, and other key stakeholders.
Get all the latest Merritt news, updates, and announcements!
“Housing is absolutely essential to human flourishing. Without stable shelter, it all falls apart.”
— Matthew Desmond, Sociologist & Author of Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City
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.