T
he Melville Charitable Trust has awarded $75,000 to the ULI Foundation to support the development of 10 Principles for Addressing Homelessness: A Guide for Real Estate & Finance. This one-year grant is the trust's first donation to the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and will enable ULI's Homeless to Housed (H2H) initiative to create a comprehensive guide connecting real estate leaders with not-for-profit housing providers.

    The project builds on two years of groundwork following a $1.5 million donation from Preston Butcher, which established H2H. The goal is to catalyze the production and preservation of more deeply affordable housing that is cost-effective and rapidly deployable. A national leadership committee will synthesize insights from virtual and in-person focus groups held at ULI events, aiming to publish the report by the ULI Fall Meeting.

    The project has three primary goals: to build knowledge about homelessness, change mindsets among public- and private-sector organizations, and foster commitments from ULI members to integrate the 10 principles into their practices. The initiative will also establish the ULI Homeless to Housed Action Network, a community of practice amplifying these principles.

    Since 1990, the Melville Charitable Trust has funded efforts to end homelessness and housing insecurity in the United States. This grant is part of its anti-racist policy change and housing justice initiatives for Black, Indigenous, and Latine populations. The 10 Principles project promises to be a transformative resource by offering a practical approach for real estate developers, investors, city officials, and nonprofit providers.

    The 10 Principles for Addressing Homelessness project builds on ULI's 2022 publication, 10 Principles for Embedding Racial Equity in Real Estate Development. This new project will help real estate professionals deliver the financial and social benefits of equity to all stakeholders. The grant is a significant milestone, signaling that other organizations recognize the importance of engaging the land use industry in addressing homelessness.

    The initiative extends ULI's commitment to support affordable housing production and preservation, but H2H takes a more focused approach on affordability and supportive tenant services. ULI members are encouraged to contribute to the continued growth of H2H by donating to the ULI Annual Fund or making leadership gifts directly with the ULI Foundation.

    The 10 Principles guide will connect ULI members' expertise with affordable housing service providers and philanthropic organizations, highlighting that homelessness is solvable through collective action.