Alumna Jennifer Flores
- Fabiola M Rivera
- May 6
- 3 min read
From Cville to the Bay: My Journey into the Niche of Affordable Housing Finance
It’s funny how a single connection can change your entire trajectory. For me, that connection started in a dining hall at the University of Virginia.
During my time in the Global Development Studies (GDS) program, I became close with a woman who worked in the Newcomb dining hall. She eventually introduced me to the Southwood community and Habitat for Humanity, where I started volunteering with childcare during planning meetings. Before I knew it, I was translating for residents and attending Planning Commission meetings. That’s when it clicked: there was a name for this work—Urban Planning.
Finding the "Hard Skills"
I structured my GDS degree around urbanism, focusing my thesis on Latinx contributions to urban design in the Southwest. After graduating, I cut my teeth working for Habitat and then moved to New York City to work for a firm called Urbane.
While GDS gave me the theoretical foundation and "soft skills" to understand the why behind community development, my time in NYC taught me the how. I dove into the technical side of things:
Section 8 conversions and government subsidies.
Navigating the intense political landscape of housing development.
Learning the "hard skills" of zoning overrides and detailed reporting.
The Berkeley Pivot & The Power of the "Ask"
As much as I loved the mission, I realized that grassroots organizing can take a heavy toll without the right support. Plus, I had to think about my family's financial future. I knew I wanted to go deeper into the technical side of the industry, so I headed to UC Berkeley for my Master’s in City Planning and a certificate in Real Estate.
Pro-tip for future grad students: You can negotiate your funding! I didn't know that until the summer before I started, but by asking, I secured funding for my first year—a huge relief given the out-of-state costs.
Digging My Claws Into Finance
At Berkeley, I found my niche: Affordable Housing Finance. A lot of people shy away from the math, but I love the "puzzle" aspect of it. Today’s market is tough; government subsidies are being slashed, and you have to be incredibly creative to make projects pencil out. I now spend my days working with 20-page spreadsheets (proformas), piecing together different funding sources while staying in compliance.
It allows me to keep my morals—working on projects that provide human rights like housing—while building the specialized expertise that gives me a seat at the table.
Looking Ahead: Changing the System from the Inside
I’m excited to share that I recently accepted a full-time offer as an Associate Banker with JPMorgan’s Community Development division. I’ll be focusing solely on funding low-income housing projects—analyzing risk, reviewing finances, and ensuring these developments actually get built.
Being the only Latina or woman of color in the room can be intimidating, but I carry two mantras with me:
"I have all the tools in my pocket that I need to succeed."
"Closed mouths don't get fed."
I’ve learned that the "system" needs people on the inside who can push things through and move resources to the communities that need them most. My goal is to use my seat at the table to open doors for others and make sure resources aren't kept close to the chest.
My advice to current students? Start networking now. It’s a muscle you have to build. Don't just send blank applications; talk to people, hear about their day-to-day, and find the niche where your passion meets a real-world need. If you ever want to chat about urban planning or navigating the "hard skills" of finance, reach out!
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