Jessica Martin, Housing Production Senior Associate, comes to SV@Home after graduating with a master’s in Urban and Regional Planning from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. There she focused her academics on housing and land use policy as well as the impacts of gentrification and displacement of Black communities. During her time at UCLA, Jessica was a research fellow at California Housing Partnership, working on COVID-19 impacts on renters in California.
Prior to pursuing her graduate degree, Jessica was a Project Administrator for Eden Housing, working to bring a number of affordable housing developments to communities around the Bay Area. She also credits her time as an Americorps member working at Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco for igniting her drive and deep commitment to undoing the harmful effects of exclusionary housing policies on marginalized and underserved BIPOC communities.
“Everyone deserves a safe and decent place to call home, and I am so excited to join the outstanding policy team of SV@Home, where I can develop and practice my housing and policy research skills to bring affordable housing to the most vulnerable residents of Silicon Valley.”
Jessica enjoys practicing ceramics, reading, and hanging out at Lake Merritt in her spare time.