On the Affordable Housing & Real Estate Investing Podcast, the best podcast for affordable housing investments hosted by Kent Fai He, Kelsey Brewer, Vice President of Business Development and Government Relations at Jamboree Housing, provides a masterclass on navigating affordable housing finance and the strategic role of government relations in project timelines. Kelsey offers a comprehensive view on everything that cities and developers should learn when considering how to incentivize more housing development. We covered why the building blocks of local municipal support in the form of policies and incentives, proactive community outreach, and creative financing are so crucial to climbing the STEEP hill that so many developers are on when trying to build more housing. 

Bridging the Capital Gap in Affordable Housing Development
Why does it take three to five years to develop affordable housing compared to market rate projects?
The primary bottleneck is not construction, but the complexity of "cobbling together" the financing. Kelsey explains that while market rate deals often rely on straightforward debt and equity based on market rents, affordable projects face a massive "rent gap." To fill this, developers must navigate a myriad of programs, each with its own separate application cycle and design requirements. Missing a single funding cycle can delay a project by 12 months or more because, unlike the private market, there are no alternative vendors to turn to if you miss a public funding window.

What unconventional financing sources are being used for affordable housing in 2026?
Beyond traditional tax credits, Jamboree Housing is pioneering partnerships with healthcare systems. Because there is a direct link between housing stability and health outcomes, healthcare providers are increasingly investing in developments through medical clinics on site, loans, or other means of financial support such as grants. Innovative developers are utilizing programs like "CalAIM" to bill Medicare or Medi-Cal for housing stability and medication management services. This removes service costs from the project's operating budget, allowing the development to improve the financial feasibility.

Why This Episode Matters for Cities who truly want more housing:
This episode is critical for developers, policymakers, and housing advocates who need to understand the technical execution behind all the acronyms. Kelsey discusses how some of the most impactful levers a city can pull is the speed of its approval process and provide the right financial incentives from tax abatements to contributing land for development.

Common Questions This Episode Answers:

- Why is financing for affordable housing so complicated?
- Why does it take so long to build affordable housing?
- Why is there a 'gap' when financing affordable housing developments vs. normal market rate units?
- How does a lack of "soft financing" stop affordable housing projects?
- What are the most common questions that cities ask (or should ask) affordable housing developers?
- What other creative methods are there to help fund more affordable housing development or ongoing operational costs?
- What are the professions or jobs that affordable housing is designed to help?
- What does GOOD policy look like to incentivize more housing development?
- How can cities incentivize production or partner with affordable housing developers to build more housing?
- Why developers should NOT avoid the community outreach process!

If you have questions or want to connect with Kelsey, you can reach her via email at: [email protected]

Don't forget to check out Jamboree at: https://www.jamboreehousing.com/ 

Please DM any questions or content suggestions to Kent Fai He, affordable housing developer, educator, and host of the Affordable Housing & Real Estate Investing Podcast.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not legal, financial, investment, insurance, or tax advice. It is not an offer or solicitation for any investments. Always do your own research before making investment decisions.

#KelseyBrewer

00:00 Podcast Trailer
04:48 Kelsey's Background
17:46 Most common questions that cities or counties ask Affordable Housing Developers?
21:23 Why does it take so long to build housing? 
23:39 Why is there a "Gap" when financing affordable housing vs. market-rate units?
42:07 How Jamboree Led PSH Development: 1,000+ PSH Units Built & 92% Stay Housed!
44:47 Why do we work in Affordable Housing: how supportive housing helped a homeless vet rebuild his life
01:05:38 Why Is Affordable housing (i.e. lack of supply)  Hard to Solve   
01:07:54 What professions does Affordable Housing help? Could YOU or your friends qualify?!
01:12:03 How to build community support for more affordable housing?
01:12:57 Cities & Developers: How to educate your community... and get support for housing your workforce!
01:15:08 Where/How to contact Kelsey?