Eden Housing Intern, Thomas Phung, Selected to Participate in Merritt Scholars Program
August 7, 2024
Eden Housing is proud to announce that Thomas Phung, our Asset Management Intern, was selected to participate in the 2024 Merritt Scholars program. He will join this year’s cohort of 20 exceptional scholars from across the state of California who are eager to build careers in affordable housing. This prestigious recognition highlights Thomas’ dedication and potential in the field, and underscores Eden Housing’s commitment to fostering the next generation of leaders in affordable housing.
The Merritt Scholars program began in 2009 as a way to attract the next generation of affordable housing finance and development professionals. The program offers a $10,000 scholarship for undergraduate and graduate students; many meaningful opportunities to learn more about the affordable housing field via access to a mentor; fully paid attendance at local and statewide industry conferences; and networking opportunities and engagement with leaders in the affordable housing field.
Thomas is currently studying Economics at UC Davis and is passionate about the impact of affordable housing in his own community and beyond. He sees it as a fundamental issue that affects essentially everyone we know. “Everybody needs somewhere to live and the housing costs, especially in places like California, are really high,” he said. “I want to help give back and keep the affordable housing industry going.”
Eden Housing’s Asset Management team is responsible for ensuring that all Eden properties are operated successfully. Thomas says his time interning for the team has been enlightening. From learning about the budgeting process to working with community managers, he has played a pivotal role in helping the team ensure that all Eden Housing properties are well taken care of and prepared for the year ahead.
As part of the Merritt Scholars program, Thomas will be invited to attend multiple conferences throughout the year where he can further his affordable housing experience and contacts. Often at the conclusion of the program, Merritt assists scholars in obtaining a job in the affordable housing field. From their 2022-2023 cohort, an impressive 14 out of 16 scholars secured jobs in the affordable housing field. You can learn more about past Merritt Scholars by reading a few of their success stories here.
Stay tuned to Eden Housing’s social channels for updates on Thomas’ experience as he delves deeper into the affordable housing field and takes the first steps in his career. We are confident that his journey will inspire many more young professionals to join the effort in creating and maintaining affordable housing solutions for communities in need. Thomas’ dedication and passion reflect Eden Housing’s vision to help everyone have access to safe, decent, affordable housing by building high-quality, well-managed, service-enhanced housing that meets the needs of lower-income families, seniors, veterans, and people living with disabilities.
We applaud your efforts Thomas, and we look forward to seeing your impact on the field in the years to come. Please join us in congratulating Thomas on this important recognition.