HDTI in Focus: Meet Gabriela Vega
10.20.2022
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LISC StoriesAffordable Housing
Born and raised in Boyle Heights, Gabriela Vega is proud to be a first-generation Latina in the affordable housing industry. She is the Community Development Manager at The Decro Group, a non-profit committed to helping meet the critical shortage of affordable housing. Gabriela is currently participating in LISC’s Housing Development Training Institute (HDTI), a one-of-a-kind comprehensive program that provides hands-on experience to develop the staff of community development corporations throughout California.
Although she has not lived in affordable housing, Gabriela remembers when she and her family were displaced from their neighborhood at a young age. Like so many others, her parents were unaware of their tenant rights. For the last two decades, Gabriela has seen that lot sit vacant until recently, when a local nonprofit proposed developing it into affordable housing.
Since entering the affordable housing space, Gabriela has immersed herself in navigating tenant services and gaining a better understanding of the challenges families face that affect their housing situation. Throughout the years, seeing the number of people experiencing homelessness increase, especially in Boyle Heights, intrigued her about what it takes to build affordable housing in Los Angeles. That is why she applied for LISC’s competitive HDTI program.
Having completed the first two of three parts of the training, Gabriela has already gained confidence in her leadership skills, a better understanding of her roles and responsibilities as a development manager, and critical knowledge of the development and negotiations process. After graduating from HDTI, Gabriela looks forward to leading projects through all phases of development and inspiring the younger generation in her Boyle Heights community to break out of their shell and help bring more resources to their community.
LISC launched HDTI in response to an unmet educational need for a comprehensive program to develop the skills of the staff of community development corporations. Over 500 people representing over 100 community development organizations throughout California have graduated from the program since its inception in 1988. Each participant identifies a housing development project to work on actively throughout the program to gain real-world experience. Over three years (2022-2024), HDTI is funded by Merritt Community Capital Corporation’s Commitment to California initiative.
Learn more about the program and sign up to receive updates about the next application at: https://www.lisc.org/los-angeles/what-we-do/affordable-housing/california-housing-development-training-institute-hdti.
