Century Housing Taps New Chief Executive

Why It Matters

Leadership with deep affordable‑housing expertise positions Century to accelerate construction of critical housing stock, directly addressing California’s severe affordability gap and influencing broader policy and investment trends.

Key Takeaways

• Century Housing invested $3.5B, built 63,000 California homes.
• New CEO Jacqueline Waggoner brings 25+ years affordable housing experience.
• Projects target veterans and transitional housing, adding 1,200+ units.
• California faces shortage of 1 million affordable homes.
• Waggoner aims to expand Century’s impact for next three decades.

Pulse Analysis

California’s affordable‑housing crisis has become a defining economic challenge, with the National Low Income Housing Coalition estimating a deficit of one million units. Century Housing, a veteran nonprofit developer, has historically filled part of that gap by leveraging tax‑exempt financing, public‑private partnerships, and impact‑investment capital. Its $3.5 billion portfolio demonstrates how mission‑driven finance can scale across diverse projects, from mixed‑income developments to supportive housing, while preserving long‑term affordability.

Jacqueline Waggoner’s appointment signals a strategic shift toward deeper integration of policy insight and capital markets expertise. At Enterprise Community Partners, she orchestrated more than $1 billion in grants and impact investments, honing a skill set that blends community‑focused programming with sophisticated financing structures. Her background in both nonprofit and academic circles equips her to navigate California’s complex regulatory environment, advocate for increased funding streams, and attract private‑sector partners eager to meet ESG objectives.

Looking ahead, Century’s flagship initiatives—such as the West Los Angeles Veterans Collective, slated to deliver at least 1,200 homes for homeless and at‑risk veterans, and the Century Villages at Cabrillo supportive‑housing community—illustrate a scalable model for addressing niche housing needs. Under Waggoner’s leadership, the organization is likely to pursue larger, data‑driven development pipelines, leveraging emerging low‑income housing tax credits and green‑building incentives. For investors, policymakers, and developers, the transition underscores a growing convergence of social impact and financial returns in the California real‑estate market.