How long have you worked for the City of Santa Cruz?
I've been working full-time for the City for over 7 years.

What do you do in the Housing Division?
As the Management Analyst in the Housing Division, I work on Housing policy updates (like the Inclusionary Ordinance); I track housing legislation from the State and analyze the impact these laws have on the City; I review plans for housing projects and make sure the required ordinances are applied to the projects, including determining affordability requirements; I answer questions from affordable housing owners and property managers; I apply for grants to help further the affordable housing goals of the City; and I answer general inquiries from the community related to housing, affordability and more.

Why did you choose to work in the Housing Division?
When I first joined the Economic Development team in 2012, I was hired as an administrative assistant, and in that position, I learned a lot about the different divisions in Economic Development. One of the divisions that really suited my skills was Housing - I enjoy working with spreadsheets, researching questions, and making checklists, so the routine tasks were a great fit. I was able to work with the housing team at the time and was promoted from admin assistant to Housing Program Specialist where I began building my knowledge of the City's housing policies. Six years later, I'm still part of the Housing Team, and I have the privilege of serving the community I've grown up in.

What are your favorite aspects of your job?
No two days are ever the same; I have a lot of opportunities to dig deep into different topics, state bills, and ordinance questions. I really enjoy the variety of work that I get to do as a management analyst, and I also really enjoy collaborating with the Housing team, Economic Development team, and other departments in the City. It's rewarding to work with community members to find answers to questions, resources, and to see the passion this community has for affordable housing.

What are you looking forward to working on in 2021?
I'm looking forward to seeing the City's housing projects begin to take shape and enhancing the Housing webpages to provide updates and resources to community members!