About Us

500 Capitol Mall Building

For more than 45 years, the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) has supported the needs of low- and moderate-income renters and homebuyers by providing financing and programs with a focus on equity. Established in 1975, CalHFA was chartered as the state's affordable housing lender. The Agency's Multifamily Lending Division finances affordable rental housing through collaborations with developers, local, state and federal government partners and more, while its Single Family Division partners with a preferred lender network to provide first-time homebuyers with down payment and closing cost assistance and access to first mortgage loans. CalHFA is a self-supported state agency that doesn't rely on taxpayers dollars for its operational costs but regularly administers various state and federal resources on behalf of the state.

Meet Us

Tiena Johnson-Hall

Tiena Johnson Hall

Executive Director since August 2021, appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom. M.B.A. University of Redlands. Previously: Senior Vice President and Manager of Community Development Finance, BBVA (2014-2021); Vice President and Community Development Manager, Bank of the West (2014); Senior VP and Relationship Manager, U.S. Bank (2005-2014); Director of Housing, Major Projects Division of the Los Angeles Housing and Investment Department (2004-2005); Senior VP and Regional Manager, Bank of America Community Lending (1997-2003); Finance Development Manager, Major Projects Division of the Los Angeles Housing and Investment Department (1995-1997); Project Manager, Abode Communities (1991-1994). Councils: California Interagency Council on Homelessness (2021 to present).

Executive Director PhotoMeet with Tiena

Chris Shultz

Chris Shultz

Chief Deputy Director since June 2023 M.B.A. California State University Sacramento. Previously: Chief Deputy Commissioner at the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (2019 to 2023); Chief Deputy Director at the Department of Consumer Affairs (2017 to 2019); Deputy Commissioner at the Department of Insurance (2011 to 2017); Legislative Director, California State Assembly (2009-2010); Public Affairs Director, The Ulum Group (2006-2009); Chief of Staff, California State Assembly (2004-2006); Capitol Director, California State Senate (2001-2004); Technology Policy Coordinator, Governor’s Secretary for Education (2000-2001); State Government Affairs Manager, American Electronics Association (1998-2000); Legislative Aide, California State Assembly (1996-1998).

Mehgie Tabar

Mehgie Tabar

Director of Legislation since March 2024 M.A. University of California, Irvine. Previously: Principal Consultant, California Senate Housing Committee (2022-2024); Data and Research Manager and Senior Housing Specialist, California Department of Housing and Community Development (2019-2022); Associate, Root Policy Research (2016-2019); Consultant, Concord Group (2014-2016); Research Assistant, Rosenow Spevacek Group (2014).

Kate Ferguson

Kate Ferguson

Director of Multifamily Programs since May 2019. M.B.A. Thunderbird School of Global Management. Previously: Credit Administration and Underwriting Manager for Commercial Real Estate-Affordable Housing, BBVA Compass Bank (2016-2018); Senior Vice President and Regional Manager for Commercial Real Estate-Community Lending Division, U.S. Bank (2010-2014); Vice President and Portfolio Risk Manager for Commercial Real Estate – Colorado Market, U.S. Bank (2008-2010); Vice President and Credit Department Manager, Colorado Business Bank (2006-2008); Director of Portfolio Risk Management, Mercy Housing (2004-2006); Director of Underwriting, Mercy Housing (2003-2004); Vice President-Community Development Division, Bank of America (1994-1999); Vice President-Special Assets Division, Bank of America (1992-1994); Assistant Vice President-Commercial Real Estate, Bank of America (1989-1992); Senior Account Officer-Commercial Real Estate, Scotia Bank (1987-1989).

Claire Tauriainen

Claire Tauriainen

General Counsel since July 2018. J.D. University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. Previously: Assistant General Counsel (2017-2018); Attorney III, CalHFA (2007-2017); Associate Attorney, Stockdale Law Firm (2006 to 2007); Associate Broker, Realty World-Point Richmond (2002 to 2005); Attorney in Civil Litigation, McNamara, Dodge, Ney, Beatty, Slattery, Borges and Ambacher LLP (2002 to 2003).

Rebecca Franklin

Rebecca Franklin

Director of Enterprise Risk Management and Compliance since October 2020. Ed.D. University of the Pacific, M.A Gonzaga University. Previously: Director of Innovation, State Fund (2019-2020); Enterprise Risk Manager, CalPERS (2015-2019); Management and Organizational Planning Consultant, and IT Personnel Analyst (2010-2015); Teller Operations Specialist, Bank of America (2004-2010).

Jennifer LeBoeuf

Jennifer LeBoeuf

Director of Administration since August 2017. B.A., California State University, Sacramento. Previously: Consultant (2017); Director of Human Resources and Administrative Services, Pacific Municipal Consultants (2000-2016); Office Manager, Interface Engineering (1993-2000).

Ellen Martin

Ellen Martin

Director of Homeownership since March 2023. M.A., California State University, Sacramento. Previously: Director of Business Development and Stakeholder Relations (2021-2023); Principal, Economic and Planning Systems Inc. (2005-2019); Policy Analyst and Legislative Coordinator, United Domestic Workers of America (2004-2005).

Oksana Glushchenko

Oksana Glushchenko

Comptroller since June 2022, B.S., Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, Moscow, Russia. Previously: Deputy Comptroller, CalHFA (2016–2022); Accounting Administrator II, CalHFA (2010-2016); Accounting Administrator I (Supervisor), CalHFA (2007-2010); various accounting positions for CalHFA (1999-2007); Office Manager, Better Homes Realty North Valley Brokers (1996-1999).

Erwin Tam

Erwin J. Tam

Director of Financing since September 2021. B.A., University of California, Berkeley. Previously: Senior Vice President, Backstrom McCarley Berry & Co. LLC (2020); Vice President, KNN Public Finance (2014-2020); Vice President and Senior Vice President, Backstrom McCarley Berry & Co. LLC (2009-2014); Associate, RBC Capital Markets (2008); Associate, Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. (2005-2007).

Ashish Kumar

Ashish Kumar

Chief Information Officer since May 2019. B.S., Information Systems Security, A.S. Computer Network Systems ITT Tech, Rancho Cordova, Previously: Chief Information Security Officer, CalHFA (2013 - 2019); Systems Analyst – VoIP Engineer, CalHFA (2010-2013); Support Engineer, Sundt Construction (2006 – 2010); Home Improvement and Operations Management, Sears (2003 – 2006).

Kathy Phillips

Kathy Phillips

Director of Marketing & Communications since October 2016. A.S., Computer Science. Previously: Marketing Communications Manager, CalHFA (2015-2016); Website Manager/Digital Marketing Manager, CalHFA (2002-2015); Help Desk Specialist, CalHFA (2001-2002); Technical Support Manager, iMotors.com (2000-2001), Y2K Technician (Consultant), Sutter Health (1999-2000), Support Manager, Walmart (1992-1997).