FOUNDER's STORY

Lorena remembers the exact moment she knew her life’s purpose. She was lying on a cot in an emergency shelter – after months of couch surfing – when she realized that people should not have to live this way. “When I grow up, I’m going to fix it,” Lorena recalls thinking. “I was young – 16 or so – and idealistic.” She would go on to spend most of her high school years on friends’ couches, in emergency youth shelters, and a group home. 

When Lorena did grow up, trying to find ways to “fix it,” or even help, was incredibly disillusioning. Suggestions for how she, a young woman, could help her community ranged from volunteering in soup kitchens, to working in a shelter, or becoming a real estate agent. Lorena tried all of these approaches, and while they were all important pieces of the solution, they did not feel like her calling. She wanted to fix the system that was failing so many Americans.

Lorena decided that higher education would be the best way to learn how best to serve. The first to attend college in her family, Lorena attained degrees in social psychology and ethnic studies to better understand how community and culture play a role in belonging and stability, as well as a dual master’s degree in public and nonprofit administration to learn how to best leverage and balance the two sectors. These academic pursuits equipped her with a broad and integrated perspective on how government policy and funding, community planning, and nonprofit direct service intersect and impact housing ecosystems.

Lorena’s experiences exposed her to the systemic barriers that prevent many from accessing safe and affordable housing. Overcoming these challenges, she emerged determined to prevent others from enduring similar hardships. Her firsthand experience brings a unique empathy and understanding to her work, driving her to champion inclusive policies and systems to uplift everyone, especially our nation’s most vulnerable.

The founding of Balance Community Advisors is the culmination of Lorena’s journey. Conceived to provide instant infrastructure and ongoing support to communities grappling with housing affordability and homelessness crises, Balance integrates public, private, and nonprofit resources to create a strong support system that uplifts communities and sets them up for continued success. Her firm aims to equip local leaders with comprehensive strategies, sustainable implementation, and data-driven decision-making.

Today, as the CEO of Balance Community Advisors, Lorena uses her story to advocate for systemic change and to inspire other women, proving that one’s beginnings do not define one’s future. Lorena’s leadership motivates a new generation of women to lead with courage and to relentlessly pursue equity and justice in their communities.