Generative Program Development

DGI is at the forefront of local and national efforts advocating for more equitable and effective systems and policies that facilitate more affordable housing development. DGI provides technical expertise to help public agencies, nonprofits, and grassroots housing advocates efficiently leverage their resources and relationships to secure the private sector and other funding needed to execute and achieve their affordable housing policy goals.

  • Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) TRiO+

    TriO+ is an affordable housing and homeownership program for teachers and other workers that DGI is executing in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Education and the Oakland Unified School District. In their first year working for OUSD, teachers are offered the opportunity to pay only $375 a month for rent. This novel approach eliminates housing barriers for new teachers and supports BIPOC individuals to pursue careers in teaching students at BIPOC majority schools.

  • Kukui Gardens, Honolulu, HI

    Constructed in 1970 under the HUD 211(d)(3) program, Kukui Gardens encompasses 20 buildings with 1 – 4 bedroom family apartments on a 9-acre property adjacent to Honolulu’s Chinatown neighborhood. In 2008, DGI assembled public officials, co-developers, community organizers, resident leaders, and finance partners to rehab and preserve unit affordability before the aging property’s federal subsidies expired. This team included Carmel Partners (Kukui Gardens Corporation’s original owners), Hawai’i Housing Finance & Development Corporation, the State of Hawaii, EAH Housing, Faith Action for Community Equity, and Kukui Gardens Residents Association. DGI worked with HUD and Hawaii’s Congressional delegation to secure $50 million in state general obligation bonds for the project. These and other secured funds were used to buy and divide the property to facilitate its development by multiple owners, including DGI. Upon its completion, Kukui Gardens was the largest public/private partnership preservation project in the country, with 867 units ranging in AMI from 30% - 140%.

  • Welcome.US is a national coalition working together to welcome and provide support to Afghan newcomers. DGI has partnered with Welcome.US to connect housing developers and property management companies with resettlement agencies, Afghan-American organizations and other key stakeholders to increase housing opportunities nationwide for refugees.