street view with buildings

For leaders in the affordable housing industry, every day can be a whirlwind—from meeting with policymakers and colleagues to checking on construction progress. We followed three women leaders in the industry to learn more about their work, motivators and goals.

BRG– JPMC – Women’s History Month Day In The Life Holly Primary – Descriptive Transcript

Side note:

Hopeful music plays.

On screen:

The sun rises over the silhouetted skyline of Los Angeles, California. Holly Benson (a white woman with shoulder-length hair) speaks as a video montage shows Holly driving her daughter (a black girl with braided hair) to school.

Holly Benson:

I start each day with the mad dash that a lot of moms and dads do and getting your kids off to school. My daughter Althea and I are a dynamic duo. As a single mom working hard all day, it's hard to steal those moments here and there. And so, I think we both really value that time.

On screen:

On the drive, Holly and Alfia talk and laugh. Upon arriving at school, Holly gives her daughter a charm for her bracelet and then the girl opens the car door to leave.

Alfia:

Bye mom.

Holly Benson (NAT):

Bye honey, love you.

Alfia:

I love you.

On screen:

From a spacious office, Holly speaks to the viewer.

Text on screen:
Holly Benson, President and CEO, Abode Communities.

Holly Benson:

My name is Holly Benson, and I am the President and CEO of Abode Communities. We are a nonprofit affordable housing developer, designer, property management company, and social service provider.

On screen:

Holly walks through Abode Communities' open office workspace, and waves to her team members.

Holly Benson (NAT):

Morning guys.

On screen:

From a spacious office, Holly speaks to the viewer.

Holly Benson:

I joined Abode Communities 17 years ago and started as a real estate developer, worked my way up through the ranks. An early mentors said to me, “Housing can get under your skin and into your blood.” And I've been really living/breathing affordable housing ever since.

On screen:

A montage of photos show Holly smiling as a younger woman, speaking behind a podium at an Abode  Communities event, standing with her colleagues, at a ribbon cutting ceremony, at a construction site, and at an Abode Communities-sponsored volunteer service event.

Holly Benson:

A busy day for me involves everything from taking Zoom meetings to meeting with the team here at Abode Communities.

On screen:

A montage shows Holly in her office working on a desktop computer and meeting with team members in an office with large windows overlooking Los Angeles.

Holly Benson:

It might mean taking meetings with board members or potential funders. What I do when I go out to properties is I meet with our staff. I like to hear from them what their experience is like.

On screen:

Holly and her staff talk as they tour the Rolland Curtis Gardens apartment complex.

Holly Benson:

As a leader, I really try to be collaborative. I know that the folks who work here bring a lot of really brilliant ideas and thinking to the work, and I see the passion that people bring, and frankly I see the progress that's being made. I see developments being built all over the city of Los Angeles. I see people moving in every day.

On screen:

Holly and her team members collaborate at a table in a large conference room. A photo montage shows an enormous crane at a construction site and modern apartment buildings in residential neighborhoods.

Holly Benson:

The thing that inspires me the most about my work are the residents who live in our properties and call those places home.

On screen:

A montage shows Holly with two property residents and men and women in a property community center.

Holly Benson:

We have the wonderful tradition of having grand opening celebrations at all of our properties and it's a real moment to see the culmination of many, many years of work. When you see that moment of a resident really calling their place home, it's worth it all.

On screen:

Photographs show Holly with a young woman at a grand opening celebration, a family inside their comfortable apartment, and children studying together in a property's resident center.

Holly Benson:

And I'm just so proud to be able to have the wonderful opportunity to lead the people of Abode Communities.

On screen:

A montage shows Holly working with community members and colleagues.

Logos:

 - J.P. Morgan;
 - Chase;
 - and the Chase octagon symbol.

Side note:

Legal disclosures appear.

Text on screen:

Chase, J.P. Morgan, JPMorgan, JPMorgan Chase, and Story by J.P. Morgan are marketing names for certain businesses of JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates and subsidiaries worldwide (collectively, "JPMC", "We", "Our" or "Us", as the context may require).

The material contained in this video is intended as general market commentary and does not constitute legal, tax, investment, accounting, financial, business, real estate, or any other advice, and should not be relied upon as such. The views, opinions, estimates, and strategies expressed in this video are those of JPMC, or other featured speakers, and may differ from those of Commercial Banking or other JPMC employees and affiliates. This video in no way constitutes an offer or commitment to provide a particular product or service. Products and services offered by JPMC and its affiliates are subject to applicable laws and regulations as well as our service terms and policies. Not all products and services are available in all geographic areas or to all customers. Credit is subject to approval. Rates and programs are subject to change; certain restrictions apply.

This content does not constitute J.P. Morgan Research and should not be treated as such. Any views expressed are often based on current market conditions and are subject to change without notice.

Any statistics referenced have been obtained from external sources deemed to be reliable, but we do not guarantee their accuracy or completeness. In no event shall JPMorgan Chase nor any of its directors, officers, employees, or agents be liable for use of, for any decisions made or actions taken in reliance upon, or for any inaccuracies or errors in or omissions from, the information in this video.

Equal Housing Lender. Copyright 2023 JPMorgan Chase & Co. All rights reserved. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Deposits held in non-U.S. branches are not FDIC insured.

END

Holly Benson, President and CEO of Abode Communities

As a full-service nonprofit, Abode works on affordable housing development, management and social services. Drawing on decades of experience in California’s affordable housing sector, Benson works to make every property feel like a community. She believes in strong involvement from property managers and amenities such as community centers and gardens.

BRG – JPMC – Women’s History Month Day In The Life Jana Primary – Descriptive Transcript

Side note:

Euphoric music plays.

On screen:

The sun rises over Indianapolis Indiana's silhouetted skyline. Jana Hageman (a woman with blonde hair and brown eyes) speaks as a video montage shows Jana bringing her two young boys breakfast and then driving them to school.

Jana:

My day usually starts with one of my little boys coming into my bed and saying, “Mom, it’s time to get up!” My time in the morning with the kids is critical. We eat breakfast, we talk, we usually do our spelling review. And then grab the bookbags, hop in the car, go to school. There’s just this piece, kind of, that comes over you when you start your morning, like your two little boys.

On screen:

From an office with potted plants, Jana speaks to the viewer.

Text on screen:
Jana Hageman, President and Founder, T&H Investments.

Jana:

My name’s Jana Hageman, I am President and Founder of T&H Investments. We are an affordable development construction and management company.

On screen:

At T&H Investments headquarters, Jana walks into her office and sits at her computer desk with a blue "T&H" coffee tumbler.

Jana:

T&H stands for “Thankful and Humble.” Our values are: love what you do, do well by doing good, family culture, work hard work smart, and do the right thing.

On screen:

Jana reviews blueprints with her Executive Management Team.

Jana:

When I first started in this industry, people had kind of a misconception about affordable housing, right? And it was oftentimes really challenging to convince cities or convince politicians. “No, this is a really good thing for your community. This is really going to add value.”

On screen:

A montage shows a large multifamily apartment complex, Jana speaking to industry partners (both on the telephone and in-person), and plans, photos, illustrations and 3-D models of T&H apartment buildings.

Jana:

And I'm seeing that slowly change, where before I had to do a lot of convincing, now they're coming to us and saying, “Hey, we want you to put affordable housing. What's it going to take?” So I'm usually rushing around, like from one meeting to the next meeting to the next thing, meeting with management, I'm going to construction sites, I'm having my owners meeting.

On screen:

Jana drives to one of T&H's properties, where she meets with a group of construction managers in a trailer's wood paneled conference room.

Jana:

It's like a complex puzzle, and it's very challenging and you have to put the pieces together. And when they fit together just right, it’s very rewarding.

On screen:

Jana visits a construction site where townhouses are being constructed. On a fence, a large sign reads: "Coming Soon - Fall 2023."

Jana:

We really work hard to make sure each one of our projects has some kind of innovative component that serves the community or serves people.

On screen:

An illustration shows an aerial view of "Garfield Park" with homes that stretch out across many city blocks.

Jana:

Garfield Park, 20% of the units are set aside for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. And there's a homeownership opportunity, so at the end, if someone is willing to live there for 15 years, then they can actually take ownership of that home.

Side note:

Indistinct chatter at a family gathering.

On screen:

A large group of people gather in a lobby for a resident meeting.

Jana:

I'm most proud of how well the team handles challenges and how well they work together, how much they love each other.

I truly think our team members love and care for each other.

On screen:

Jana and about a dozen of her team members share conversation, camaraderie, and a few laughs over a meal at a casual restaurant.

Jana:

My advice is how important it is to love the work that you do. How important it is to wake up every morning and be excited about your day and what you're working on.

On screen:

A montage shows Jana typing on a computer at her office desk with a photo of her family next to her, working with team members out at a property and back at the office, and driving her two boys home after school.

Logos:

 - J.P. Morgan;
 - Chase;
 - and the Chase octagon symbol.

Side note:

Legal disclosures appear.

Text on screen:

Chase, J.P. Morgan, JPMorgan, JPMorgan Chase, and Story by J.P. Morgan are marketing names for certain businesses of JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates and subsidiaries worldwide (collectively, "JPMC", "We", "Our" or "Us", as the context may require).

The material contained in this video is intended as general market commentary and does not constitute legal, tax, investment, accounting, financial, business, real estate, or any other advice, and should not be relied upon as such. The views, opinions, estimates, and strategies expressed in this video are those of JPMC, or other featured speakers, and may differ from those of Commercial Banking or other JPMC employees and affiliates. This video in no way constitutes an offer or commitment to provide a particular product or service. Products and services offered by JPMC and its affiliates are subject to applicable laws and regulations as well as our service terms and policies. Not all products and services are available in all geographic areas or to all customers. Credit is subject to approval. Rates and programs are subject to change; certain restrictions apply.

This content does not constitute J.P. Morgan Research and should not be treated as such. Any views expressed are often based on current market conditions and are subject to change without notice.

Any statistics referenced have been obtained from external sources deemed to be reliable, but we do not guarantee their accuracy or completeness. In no event shall JPMorgan Chase nor any of its directors, officers, employees, or agents be liable for use of, for any decisions made or actions taken in reliance upon, or for any inaccuracies or errors in or omissions from, the information in this video.

Equal Housing Lender. Copyright 2023 JPMorgan Chase & Co. All rights reserved. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Deposits held in non-U.S. branches are not FDIC insured.

END

Jana Hageman, Founder and President of T&H Investments

For Hageman, developing affordable housing solutions is like a puzzle—although it can be challenging, the finished product is incredibly rewarding. To assemble all the pieces, Hageman bounces from her home to construction sites to the office, where she focuses on creating housing with unique offerings, from historic architecture to homeownership programs.

BRG – JPMC – Women’s History Month Day In The Life Priya Primary – Descriptive Transcript

Side note:

Birds chirp. Euphoric music plays.

On screen:

The iconic Washington Monument towers in the distance as dawn breaks in Washington D.C. Priya Jayachandran (a woman with black hair and brown eyes) speaks as a video montage shows Priya doing a puzzle using her mobile device and then driving in an audibly whirling car, with her teenage daughter riding in the back seat.

Priya:

If I manage to get up before my kids, then it usually starts with indulging my addiction in The New York Times Spelling Bee, trying to get to genius quickly…and then get the routine started. My older one and I commute together. It's a great way to start the day.

On screen:

From an office with a large window, Priya speaks to the viewer.

Text on screen:
Priya Jayachandran, Chief Executive Officer, National Housing Trust.

Priya:

I am Priya Jayachandran, I lead National Housing Trust. We really have a great team culture. It feels honestly like my extended family.

On screen:

Priya arrives at the National Housing Trust headquarters, greeting her team members with a warm hug.

Priya:

The impact that we have is really a function of how well people like each other and work together.

Side note:

The team members chuckle.

Upbeat music plays.

On screen:

Priya meets with her team in a large conference room.

Priya:

We equip communities for a sustainable, equitable future by preserving and modernizing existing homes and building new homes that stand the test of time.

On screen:

A montage shows skyways and highways around a residential, tree-lined neighborhood an aerial view of an apartment complex, and a large building under construction.

Priya:

We partner with residents, with policy makers, and with other advocates in the community to create a world where everyone has a place that they can proudly call home.

Side note:

Mysterious music plays.

On screen:

Photos show community leaders and residents at a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new apartment building.

Priya:

My parents are immigrants, they came to this country in the 1960s.

On screen:

A photograph shows Priya's mother and father as a young couple.

Priya:

They were able to buy a home early on with incomes that, candidly today, you wouldn’t be able to buy a home with. And I see what impact that had on my sister and me: the opportunity for good schools.

On screen:

Family photos show Priya and her sister as little girls, Priya and her sister as teenagers with their mom and dad, and Priya as a young woman with her parents.

Priya:

That was so pivotal in my life and seeing how the dynamics in the U.S. have changed and it is so out of reach for so many people.

On screen:

Photos show Priya meeting with her team in a small conference room with wall-sized windows and standing in front of the White House.

Priya:

I think my ultimate hope is that we never have a concept of affordable housing where we are agnostic on income, that people can live close to their jobs, can access good schools, that there is a housing system that accommodates everyone.

On screen:

A photograph shows community leaders at another ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Priya:

A couple of days a week, I try and run home from work, to be technology free, to be outdoors, to refresh, and to just collect my thoughts. It really is the best work and I feel very lucky.

On screen:

A montage shows Priya enjoying a run through a residential neighborhood and then smiling widely. A photograph shows Priya with her husband and three grown children - two daughters and a son.

Logos:

 - J.P. Morgan;
 - Chase;
 - and the Chase octagon symbol.

Side note:

Legal disclosures appear.

Text on screen:

Chase, J.P. Morgan, JPMorgan, JPMorgan Chase, and Story by J.P. Morgan are marketing names for certain businesses of JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates and subsidiaries worldwide (collectively, "JPMC", "We", "Our" or "Us", as the context may require).

The material contained in this video is intended as general market commentary and does not constitute legal, tax, investment, accounting, financial, business, real estate, or any other advice, and should not be relied upon as such. The views, opinions, estimates, and strategies expressed in this video are those of JPMC, or other featured speakers, and may differ from those of Commercial Banking or other JPMC employees and affiliates. This video in no way constitutes an offer or commitment to provide a particular product or service. Products and services offered by JPMC and its affiliates are subject to applicable laws and regulations as well as our service terms and policies. Not all products and services are available in all geographic areas or to all customers. Credit is subject to approval. Rates and programs are subject to change; certain restrictions apply.

This content does not constitute J.P. Morgan Research and should not be treated as such. Any views expressed are often based on current market conditions and are subject to change without notice.

Any statistics referenced have been obtained from external sources deemed to be reliable, but we do not guarantee their accuracy or completeness. In no event shall JPMorgan Chase nor any of its directors, officers, employees, or agents be liable for use of, for any decisions made or actions taken in reliance upon, or for any inaccuracies or errors in or omissions from, the information in this video.

Equal Housing Lender. Copyright 2023 JPMorgan Chase & Co. All rights reserved. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Deposits held in non-U.S. branches are not FDIC insured.

END

Priya Jayachandran, CEO of the National Housing Trust

Jayachandran looks forward to the day when everyone can afford to live in homes they can be proud of, with ample amenities and easy access to work. Until then, she’s focused on preserving, modernizing and creating affordable housing nationwide—as soon as she finishes The New York Times Spelling Bee.

Meet more leaders

These five women have supported 5,000+ affordable housing units.

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.  Visit jpmorgan.com/cb-disclaimer for disclosures and disclaimers related to this content.

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ABOUT THIS MESSAGE: J.P. Morgan, Chase and JPMorgan Chase are marketing names for certain businesses of JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its subsidiaries worldwide. In no event shall J.P. Morgan nor any of its directors, officers, employees or agents be liable for any use of, for any decision made or action taken in reliance upon, or for any inaccuracies or errors in or omissions from, the information herein. © 2023 JPMorgan Chase & Co. All rights reserved.