Happy New Year, from Housing Tools

ELSA KINGS

More About Elsa Kings…

Experience

Elsa brings to Housing Tools more than 15 years of experience planning, developing and financing affordable
housing, as well as advancing much needed affordable housing policy. Before joining the team at Housing
Tools, Elsa served as Housing Trust Fund Manager at a Regional Coalition for Housing where she managed the
annual investment of capital funding for affordable housing developments in East King County,
Washington. Prior to that, Elsa worked for the City of Seattle’s Office of Housing where she worked as
Strategic Analyst managing a portion of the city’s affordable housing investments and worked on several
policy measures leading to the advancement of affordable housing. Elsa also worked for Beacon
Development Group, constructing financial proformas for affordable housing projects, while also managing
contractors and consultants for successful project delivery. At Impact Capital, Elsa evaluated affordable
housing project feasibility and structured loans to nonprofit developers, while also managing client
relationships.

Project Experience Highlights

Administration of annual Housing Trust funds for the Cities of Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Issaquah,
Sammamish, Kenmore, Bothell, New Castle, Mercer Island, Medina, Yarrow Point, Hunts Point
Building 9 Project at Sandpoint is a partnership between Mercy Housing, City of Seattle and the State
for Washington for the extensive redevelopment of a historical naval barracks into affordable
housing.
Redmond Overlake project is a partnership between the City of Redmond, Sound Transit, King
County and Washington State to provide affordable housing on a Sound Transit donated site.
Plymouth Kenmore project is a partnership between the City of Kenmore, Plymouth Housing and
Washington state to provide 99 units of senior housing for extremely vulnerable residents exiting
homelessness.

Career

Senior Project Manager, Housing Tools 2023 to present

Housing Trust Manager, ARCH 2020 to 2022

Strategic Analyst, Housing Department, City of Seattle 2013-2020

Project Manager, Beacon Development Group 2013-2015

Senior Program Officer, Impact Capital 2007-2013

Finance Manager, Armadillo Homes 2005-2006

Education

Bachelor of Business Administration, University of Texas 2004

TINA FERNANDEZ

More About Tina Fernandez…

Experience

Tina manages labor compliance monitoring for adherence to federal and state regulations and standards. This encompasses the pre-construction, construction, and close-out phases of the monitoring process for each project. Tasks under Tina’s responsibility include project start-up, incorporating requirements into bid solicitation and contracts, providing pre-construction guidance and setup of LCPtracker, construction period monitoring, and preparing close-out reports and files systems. She is familiar with managing LCPtracker software, generating reports, and providing training on use of this software to contractors. She has also developed and improved project monitoring templates that are integral to the Housing Tools labor compliance monitoring system. Tina manages the labor compliance monitoring process from start to finish. and consistently communicates with contractors throughout all project stages. Her prior experience as a small business owner, spanning an 11-year period, also allows her to understand the importance of working together from all sides of the project. She currently monitors 12 projects for Housing Tools.

Prior to joining Housing Tools, Tina worked for both the County and City of Sacramento over five years. While working for the City of Sacramento, she handled multiple code complaints encompassing many city programs, providing information and solutions to community members and city officials. This included working closely with the community to gain compliance in a timely and professional manner with respect to city code property violations, city wide vehicle abatement program, graffiti abatement, and weed abatement. She worked with the city graffiti program and youth GAP program, as only one of two code officers dedicated to this task, which addressed removal and issuance of violations, in relation to the city ordinance and standards for citywide graffiti. She also participated in the city-wide yearly vacant lot and weed abatement program. Many of these cases involved multi-unit agencies to coordinate and resolve violations. This experience speaks to her ability to work with contractors, city staff and others, to resolve issues in a timely and professional manner. Her prior experience speaks to her ability and dedication to understanding required laws, regulations, and methods for appropriate resolution.

Project Experience Highlights

Manages labor compliance monitoring for 12 projects
LCPtracker expert
Performs regular system enhancements of Housing Tools labor compliance monitoring systems
Code enforcement

Career

Labor Compliance Specialist, Housing Tools 2022 to present

Code Enforcement Officer, City of Sacramento 2018 to 2021

Owner, F&S Engineering 2008 to 2019

Park Ranger Assistant, Sacramento County Regional Parks 2016 to 2019

Education

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, California State University, Sacramento 2018

Associate of Science in Administration of Justice, Folsom Lake College 2015

Associate of Arts in Social Behavioral Sciences, Butte College 2001

NADINE MENDOZA

JESSICA CANDELA, MPA

More About Jessica Candela, MPA…

Experience

As a Community Development Senior Project Manager at Housing Tools, Jessica brings expertise in project management, community engagement, and program development to her work facilitating a wide array of projects in rural communities. In her previous roles at Migrant Clinicians Network and Butte County Office of Education, Jessica was involved in all stages of planning, implementing, and reporting on community projects. She holds a Master of Public Administration degree from California State University, Chico.

Jessica has experience with community engagement, consolidated plans, grant administration, housing elements, fair housing assessments, housing needs studies, and supportive services plans. She has managed successful funding applications for the Homekey, Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP), and Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) programs. Jessica specializes in providing Zoom technical assistance to Housing Tools clients and facilitating virtual events for community engagement. These projects have included community conversations on permanent supportive housing in Amador County, a specific plan in the City of Salinas, and Housing Element development for the Cities of Biggs, Chico, Orland, Oroville, and Willows.

Project Experience Highlights

Butte County Medical Respite Plan (2021)
City of Biggs 2022-2030 Housing Element Update (2021-present)
City of Chico 2022-2030 Housing Element Update (2020-present)
City of Chico 2020-2024 HUD Consolidated Plan and Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (2020)
City of Orland 2021-2029 Housing Element Update (2021-present)
City of Oroville 2022-2030 Housing Element Update (2021-present)
City of Salinas Homekey Application (2020)
City of Willows 2021-2029 Housing Element Update (2020-2021)
City of Willows HOME Administrative Subcontractor for Sycamore Ridge Apartments (2020-2022)
Humboldt County Community Engagement Programs (2021-present)
No Place Like Home Technical Assistance for Amador and Siskiyou Counties (2020-present)
Permanent Local Housing Allocation Plans and Applications for Glenn, Plumas, Sierra, and Siskiyou Counties (2020-2021)

Career Highlights

Community Development Senior Project Manager, Housing Tools 2020 to Present

Project Coordinator, Development & Outreach, Migrant Clinicians Network 2019 to 2020

Project Coordinator, Butte County Office of Education 2017

Education

Master of Public Administration: Health Administration, California State University, Chico 2019

Bachelor of Arts, Political Science and Multicultural & Gender Studies, California State University, Chico 2017

CASSIE SHOWALTER

More About Cassie Showalter…

Experience

Cassie has over 10 years of combined experience in case management and public health at the nonprofit and County level, where she has served as a Health Educator, Case Manager, and Program Coordinator for Butte County Public Health Department, Butte County Continuum of Care, Caminar, and We Care a Lot Foundation. During her tenure with the Butte County Public Health, she led several department programs which required outreach and case management to individuals experiencing homelessness, including the County’s HIV, Hepatitis C and STD programs. As a freelance consultant she has directed outreach and case management teams to identify housing options for those displaced by the Camp Fire in Butte County who were temporarily housed at the Red Cross Shelter. Since joining Housing Tools in early 2019, she has worked with a number of rural northern California counties on stakeholder engagement and strategic planning to address homelessness, and data analysis through primary data sources and surveys to help communities understand the scope and needs of those experiencing homelessness. In her most recent experience with Housing Tools, Cassie has worked with numerous counties on housing needs studies, plans to address homelessness, and has supported community education sessions on the need for affordable housing and homeless services

Cassie specializes in data and is known for creating graphicly appealing substantive reports. She brings a skillset in relationship-building with policy makers, stakeholders and community members, a deep understanding of barriers and strengths rural communities experience in addressing housing and homelessness related issues, and innovative community engagement strategies that meet the unique needs of each community.

Project Experience Highlights

City of Chico 2020-2024 HUD Consolidated Plan
Housing Needs Studies for Amador, Glenn, Plumas, and Sierra Counties (2019-2020)
No Place Like Home Plans to Address Homelessness for Amador, Del Norte, Glenn, Lassen, Siskiyou, Plumas, and Sierra Counties (2019-2020)
Butte County CoC Longitudinal Assessment (2020-2021)

Career

Community Development Project Specialist, Housing Tools 2019 to present

Project Manager, Freelance Consultant 2018 to 2019

Senior Health Educator, Public Health, County of Butte 2014 to 2018

Program Coordinator, We Care a Lot Foundation 2012 to 2014

Case Manager, Caminar 2010 to 2012

Education

Bachelor of Science, Health Science, California State University Chico 2012

Butte County Medial Respite Plan

Butte County Medical Respite Plan 8.5.21 File

SAREENA RAI

James Coles

SHERRY MORGADO

More About Sherry Morgando…

Experience

Sherry has over 25 years of combined experience in community development, housing and public health at the City and County level, where she has served as the Director of Housing and Neighborhood Services for the City of Chico, Assistant Director for the Butte County Public Health Department, and Senior Community Development Specialist for the City of Modesto. During her tenures with the City of Modesto and the City of Chico, she managed all aspects of the CDBG and HOME entitlement programs, which encompassed strategic planning through Consolidated and Annual Plans, establishing budgets, setting up contracts, implementing programs and projects,
administration and adherence to federal requirements such as NEPA and federal labor standards, and reporting to HUD. At the City of Chico, he directly oversaw the use of Redevelopment Agency’s Low-and Moderate-Income Housing funds, which averaged $6 million annually, and facilitated the development of over 500 units of affordable housing. As a consultant over the past two years, Sherry has assisted local governments with HOME and CDBG compliance, documentation, and monitoring.

In her most recent experience with Housing Tools, Sherry has worked with numerous counties on housing needs studies, plans to address homelessness, and has led community education sessions on the need for affordable housing and homeless services. She specializes in community engagement and is known to our clients as an effective listener and facilitator. She brings a vast knowledge of housing and community development resources, an understanding of community dynamics, and sensitivity to the challenges inherent in developing affordable housing to each interaction with policy/decision makers, stakeholders, and community members.

Project Experience Highlights

City of Chico 2009-2014 Housing Element Update
City of Chico 2020-2024 HUD Consolidated Plan and Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice
Housing Needs Studies for Amador, Glenn, Plumas, and Sierra Counties (2018-2020)
No Place Like Home Plans to Address Homelessness for Amador, Del Norte, Glenn, Lassen, Siskiyou,
Plumas, and Sierra Counties (2019-2020)
Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) Plans and Applications for Glenn, Siskiyou, and Plumas
Counties (2020)
City of Willows HOME Administrative Subcontractor for Sycamore Ridge Apartments (2020)
City of Biggs and City of Corning CDBG and HOME Grants Administrative Subcontractor (2019-2020)
Butte County Update to 10-Year Strategy to End Homelessness (2018)

Career

Community Development Manager, Housing Tools 2018 to present

Assistant Director, Public Health, County of Butte 2016 to 2018

Director, Housing & Neighborhood Services, City of Chico 2006 to 2013

Senior Community Development Specialist, City of Modesto 2000 to 2004

Education

Bachelor of Arts, Political Science and International Relations, California State University Stanislaus 1985

Jamie MCLEOD

More About Jamie McLeod…

Experience

Jamie offers practical expertise gained as a housing analyst and licensed real estate sales agent. He has extensive experience in developing, funding, implementing, and managing housing and community development programs and projects. This has included HOME and CDBG programs, Cal-HOME, BEGIN, HELP, Workforce Housing Grant Program, first-time homebuyer efforts, and inclusionary housing program implementation and management. Jamie has acted as project manager on new construction and acquisition-rehabilitation affordable housing projects. In this capacity he was the point of contact for City staff, public and private sector lenders, and other agencies addressing issues and concerns during the financing and construction phases of these projects. Jamie has been lead staff on the preparation of RFPs and RFQs for affordable housing projects and developers. This included developing the scope of work, writing and distribution of the RFP, review of applications, and award. Jamie has been responsible for writing documents required by various grant programs. This includes the HUD Consolidated Plan, HUD Action Plan, CAPER, and Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing. As primary staff for the City of Woodland’s Inclusionary Housing Program, Jamie was responsible for the implementation of the program, qualification of eligible families, homebuyer education orientations, homebuyer lotteries for eligible units, and City loan documents and closings. Jamie was also asked to sit on the Sutter County Citizens Advisory Committee on Homelessness. This committee analyzed various sites in the County and made a recommendation on where to place a shelter for homeless individuals.

Prior to joining Housing Tools, Jamie worked as a Licensed Real Estate Agent for Coldwell Banker Commercial from 2014-2020. In this capacity he researched and analyzed potential projects for various affordable housing developers in which to construct or rehabilitate into deed-restricted units and also researched projects located in Federal Opportunity Zones. Jamie also served as a RedevelopmentHousing Analyst at the City of Woodland from 2005-2011. In this role he managed the affordable housing programs and projects for the City including the sale of 80 Inclusionary Housing units and the construction of two affordable housing rental projects.

Project Experience Highlights

City of Woodland Inclusionary Housing Loan Program (2005-2011)
City of Woodland 2005-2010 HUD Consolidated Plans and Analyses of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice
City of Woodland Terracina Springlake Project (2007)
City of Woodland Rochdale Grange Project (2011)

Career

Project Manager, Housing Tools 2020 to present

Sales Agent, CBC 2014 to 2020

Redevelopment/Housing Analyst, City of Woodland 2005 to 2011

Education

Real Estate Salesperson License 2014

Certified Economic Development Financing Professional, National Development Council 2007

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, California State University Chico 1994

Tam Le

More About Tam Le…

Experience

Tam has over seven years in Project Management and Coordination experience in the Affordable Housing Development and Solar Industries. As Project Manager for Housing Tools, Tam Le has managed successful escrow closings and worked on or project managed over 40+ TCAC Tax Credit, CDLAC Bond Allocation, and State HCD funding applications. With these projects, Tam worked seamlessly with financial institutions and government agencies such as US Bank, JP Morgan Chase, CalHFA, HCD, and local governments. Additionally, she has collaborated with non-profit affordable housing development clients and construction contractors to produce various construction, planning, and due diligence documents. Tam Le has the technical skills necessary to coordinate timelines and budgets using project management tools, and the leadership skills to diplomatically spear-head weekly conference calls.

Before working at Housing Tools, Tam honed her skills as a project coordinator in the Solar Sales and Solar Commercial Project Management fields. Tam has over 10 years of non-profit experience. She has held leadership positions with various non-profits in the fields of adult daycare, adults with disabilities, elementary/ high Schools. Additionally, Tam has managed a department with 20+ staff members for a Chico non-profit.

Project Experience Highlights

Escrow Closings: Burbank Housing’s Gravenstein Apartments, Eden Housing’s Vista Terrace and Coronado Terrace Apartments with development budgets ranging $20 million to $100 million. (2017, 2019)
Tax Credit, CDLAC – 4%, 9% Competitive and Non-Competitive – 40+ with Development Budgets
ranging from $12 million to $115 million. (2015- Present)
HCD- IIG (Small and Large Jurisdictions), TOD, VHHP, MHP Applications (Spring 2020)
Closing Deal Book, Place-In-Service Applications, non-profit formation, City Permit Applications, Solar Applications (for Chico Electric), Parking Surveys, Welfare Exemption applications