Like so many of us, Manori Sumanasinghe was scrolling through Instagram when she came across a post about Inclusive Action for the City and the numerous loan products. Little did she know that this post would change her life.

Manori, who moved to the U.S. from Sri Lanka in 2007, is an architectural designer who has always been passionate about building communities. She is a proud owner of Studio SUM Thing, which specializes in architectural design, residential and commercial spaces, and products and design.

That flame was lit as a young woman. “I was 16 when I knew I wanted to be an architect,” she said. “I’ve been passionate about building communities because it’s really cool to be designing communities.”

In the past two years, she has started working on affordable housing for the homeless and the City of Los Angeles.

“Creating affordable housing and serving underserved communities is a very important part of how I pursue my passion. It’s very special to help other people,” Manori said.

She opened her firm in 2018, and in 2020, she received a $15,000 Semi’a loan from Inclusive Action for the City. “It was a much-needed lifeline to stay afloat.”

Manori has continued to thrive since then. The IAC loan provided her with financial support and offered technical assistance to help her navigate her business in a competitive market. Through this support, she learned about business plans, strategy, marketing, trademarks, and accounting, among other subjects. This assistance propelled her beyond expectations. “I had a lot of courage and optimism but not as much business experience. It covers a lot of business 101,” she said.

“It means that I’m actually able to think about this not just as a passion but as a business and how we grow. We learn how to hire the first employee, do payroll, and all the technicalities that come with running a business. I know someone has my back, which is really important for a small business owner. It’s very exciting to have that kind of support to have the depth of knowledge covered.”

The architectural designer says the homeless crisis in Los Angeles is an issue that she is drawn to because of the dynamics involved with the unhoused.

“Homelessness is a very interesting issue. People might be couch surfing, or they are in a month-to-month situation. You also have to include people who are at risk of being homeless because that is where housing insecurity comes from.”

“Building communities is not just building buildings. It’s about people.”

But, she also has plans for Inclusive Action: “When I got the loan, I thought one day I would support an organization like IAC. I want to bring the organization along on my journey with us because it helps so many people, especially the underserved communities.”

Thanks to IAC, she will continue designing and working towards a solution for the City of Angels' unhoused crisis.

Client Stories: More Than Money with Manori