Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) are critical catalysts in the affordable housing finance ecosystem. They bridge gaps where traditional lenders cannot, providing flexible capital for land acquisition, predevelopment, construction, and preservation. CDFIs leverage public subsidies, private debt, and private equity to maximize every investment and accelerate housing production. By blending mission-driven focus with financial discipline, they unlock housing opportunities for the most vulnerable populations while strengthening community stability. Attendees will explore real-world examples of how CDFIs mobilize capital and partnerships to deliver impactful housing solutions. This session will highlight strategies, successes, and innovations shaping affordable housing finance in the Bay Area and beyond.

Moderator

Nick Friend, Chief Lending Officer, Housing Trust Silicon Valley

Nick Friend joined Housing Trust Silicon Valley in February 2025 as Chief Lending Officer, bringing nearly 20 years of experience in community lending and affordable housing finance. He previously held leadership roles at Century Housing, Citi Community Capital, the Community Preservation Corporation, and the New York City Economic Development Corporation, structuring over $650 million in loans and securing $27 million in grants. A San Francisco native, Nick holds an MBA from Columbia University and a BA from Yale, and he serves on the board of Operation Dignity while living in Berkeley with his family.

Speakers

Vince Cantore,  Senior Vice President of Development, The Core Companies

Vince Cantore is Senior Vice President of Development at the Core Companies, where he oversees approvals for residential, affordable multifamily, and renewable energy projects in the United States and Scotland. Before joining Core, he worked with Scottish Power Energy Networks to secure land agreements for over 65 MW of wind energy projects and 189 km of distribution facilities across Scotland’s Central Belt. Vince also serves on the boards of the Campbell Union High School District Education Foundation, the Homeless Garden Project, and the San Jose Chamber of Commerce.

Felix AuYeung, Vice President of Business Development at MidPen Housing

Felix AuYeung is the Vice President of Business Development at MidPen Housing, where he is responsible for launching new affordable housing developments, which includes site identification, property acquisition, project conceptualization, financial feasibility analysis, and building strong relationships with partners and the community-neighborhoods of proposed developments. Felix has worked two decades in the affordable housing industry; over the past ten years at MidPen, he has contributed 5,000 new affordable homes into the pipeline. Felix served six years on the board of East Bay Housing Organizations (EBHO), and currently serves on the board of Planning and Conservation League (PCL).

Stephaney Kipple, Multifamily Lending Manager, Housing Trust Silicon Valley

Stephaney Kipple is Multifamily Lending Manager at Housing Trust Silicon Valley, where she has originated and closed over $160 million in affordable housing loans. With almost 15 years of experience in community development finance, she leads the multifamily lending team in structuring socially impactful and sustainable financing across acquisition, predevelopment, and construction lending. Prior to joining Housing Trust, Stephaney advanced affordable housing and community development projects across Northern California and the Bay Area, Detroit, and New York City, and she continues to bring this broad perspective to her work in the region. She holds a MSc in Urban Policy from the New School, a BBA in Finance from Eastern Michigan University, and lives in Hayward with her two sons.