Courtesy photo.
CENTRAL COAST — People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) recently commemorated the retirement of their Director of Home Ownership. After more than 28 years of service to affordable housing, California native and longtime San Luis Obispo resident, Sheryl Flores is stepping down.
“Sheryl has been a tremendous asset to the growth and success of our organization,” said Ken Trigueiro, PSHH CEO & President. “It would be impossible to list all of her contributions, but we simply would not be who we are today without her leadership, expertise, and passion for the work.”
Born and raised in Sunol, CA in the rural east bay area of San Francisco, Sheryl settled on the Central Coast after studying at Cal Poly.?Coming to the organization in 1996 from the world of agricultural and business lending, she brought with her a set of financial and development skills which would prove invaluable to PSHH over the years.
During her tenure with the organization, and as Director of Home Ownership, she helped over 500 families through the mutual self-help program.?This initiative sees groups of households building homes together and converting their collective “sweat equity” into downpayments. This combined with access to low interest mortgages, provides a financial pathway to home ownership.
After her initial years with PSHH, Flores helped create the Multi-Family Housing Development department. This positioned the organization to start developing apartments and townhomes for rent.?Combined with the home ownership program, these two initiatives over Sheryl’s career have accounted for nearly 10,000 individuals throughout the Central Coast becoming safely and affordably housed. She has had a critical impact on generations of Californians and can be personally celebrated for positively changing the lives of families, seniors, veterans, people living with disabilities, and those transitioning out of homelessness.
Reflecting on her almost three decades of service, she recently sat down with the organization, participating in a video about her memories and recollections.
“I never thought I’d stay as long as I have,” said Sheryl. “But I’ve loved it here at People’s and feel that we have accomplished a lot. We had a good crew of people over the years, and I am proud of our work.”
As part of the organization’s upcoming 55th anniversary celebrations, Sheryl’s video will form part of a collection of oral histories shared by residents, partners and past employees.
In retirement, Sheryl plans to spend more time with her cherished family which now includes multiple grandchildren and pursuing her hobbies which include hiking, gardening, and volunteering.
To consider an equally fulfilling career with PSHH as Sheryl as has enjoyed, see our current employment opportunities at pshhc.org/careers.
About People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH)
Founded in 1970, PSHH is the longest-serving nonprofit affordable housing organization on the Central Coast. With a mission of building homes and providing services to strengthen communities and change lives, PSHH serves low-income households, including families, seniors, veterans, farmworkers, those living with disabilities and the formerly homeless. It also provides homeownership opportunities through a self-help, “sweat equity” program that has seen over 1,200 homes successfully completed. PSHH has a presence in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura and Monterey counties, manages over 2,000 rental units, and employs over 200 staff members. PSHH acknowledges the Indigenous Peoples and unceded territories that the organization now occupies, including the YTT Northern Chumash, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash, Barbeño/Ventureño Band of Mission Indians, Cruzeño Chumash, and Salinan elders, current and future generations as the protectors of these lands. To read the full land acknowledgement, visit pshhc.org/IDEA. For more information about the organization, visit pshhc.org, email info@pshhc.org or phone (805) 781-3088.