News

Welcoming the Next Generation of Affordable Housing Leaders

LISC offices in California have welcomed its newest cohort to the Housing Development Training Institute (HDTI). 50 participants from across the state have begun the year-long program where they’ll receive intensive skill training and support needed to become leaders in the affordable housing industry. 

The goals of HDTI are to increase the development capacity of community-based nonprofit development organizations and the supply of affordable housing through the program’s emphasis on production. Additionally, participants graduate with a network of affordable housing professionals to provide peer support throughout their careers. 

Over 30 years ago, LISC launched HDTI to respond to the lack of affordable housing training available for project managers to succeed in the field. Since that time, the program has prepared over 500 hundred graduates representing 100 community development organizations who are now changing the affordable housing landscape throughout the state.

Core to HDTI’s mission is to increase equity, diversity and inclusion within the affordable housing industry. 

According to LISC LA’s recent report, Improving Subcontractor Diversity in California’s Affordable Housing Development, people of color make up a disproportionate number of people the affordable housing industry seeks to house, and yet diverse developers are much less likely to participate in the contract, construction and/or professional services contracts associated with affordable developments. HDTI seeks to increase affordable and accessible housing for communities of color, by communities of color.

Thanks to a generous grant from Merritt Community Capital Corporation, LISC offices throughout the state will continue HDTI’s mission and expand its work to show the importance of having diverse affordable housing professionals. 

A few words from HDTI’s 2022 Class: