Culture

Our core values of Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, and Compassion are what drive our employees on their quest of helping others. We believe in opportunity and dignity for all, and these values are part of all or our programs and services.

Our employees, which are our biggest asset, have a strong sense of purpose and commitment to community.  Staff members are managed by highly-effective supervisors and are given the tools they need to succeed in their work.  Everyone is encouraged to work hard while also maintaining balance in their lives.

Every person on our staff can expect:

• Clear, Measurable Expectations. Everyone knows what’s expected from them before they join the organization.
• Integration. We want all our employees to understand the organizations vision and purpose and know how their contributions make a difference.
• Frequent Feedback and Coaching. We want everyone on staff to feel good about a job well done and strive for higher results.

Employees Testimonials

Pam Portillo

"Why I choose CFI? Newly married and unknown in San Diego, I saw a lone flyer on a bench after a meeting of the newly formed San Diego Housing Federation. The flyer advertised a job with a non profit for a "housing development coordinator". At the interview, in a shabby little office in Barrio Sherman, I was interviewed by a panel of "housing and community" experts who grilled me for an hour. I thought the interview very intense for a coordinator position. At the time, I had over 10 years experience in housing development in nationally based networks including NCLR and Neighborhood Reinvestment so I felt confident I could do the job of completing two projects within three years.

According to my old boss, the atmosphere of the room changed when I began to answer the questions. The reason they interviewed me so long was due to awe that I was interested in the job at all. I like the rawness of start-ups. I like the lack of precedent and the total commitment required to make something where nothing existed before. I worked for 6 years, alone, no consultants or staff on the first two new construction projects then launched the acquisition side of the development with the help of an ad hoc housing committee in 1997 when CFI began to acquire existing rental properties for a song at $35,000/door. Still I raised the working capital budget for down payments by myself at $1,000 at a time with a letter campaign to local companies like WD-40 and small foundations. Subsequently, the property management company we had hired informed us the properties "could not be managed" since there was too little money. So I took over the management and created a successful housing management profit center for the CFI within a year back in 2001. Every day remains a challenge in itself even if the big issues have all been ironed out years ago."

Karen Matsuda

"I came on-board with CF in October 2010. It has been a non-stop whirlwind! No matter what challenges the day brings I take delight in each day because of the kind and friendly parents, children, staff and agency that I serve."

Veronica Tovar

"I've been working at Chicano Federation going on 4 years now, and I love my job. It's rewarding helping the community and working in an environment where the staff is supportive. At Chicano Federation, I feel like I have the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally."