Northland Pledges $1 Million to Nonprofit HomeStart, Underscoring Firm’s Commitment to Housing Equity
Renowned national multifamily owner, operator and developer to donate $1 million in unrestricted funds in support of HomeStart’s work to end and prevent homelessness
NEWTON, MA (September 22, 2021) – Northland Investment Corporation, one of the country’s leading real estate private equity firms, today announced that it is donating $1 million to HomeStart, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit dedicated to ending homelessness in Greater Boston.
Northland is pursuing this gift in support of HomeStart’s differentiated approach to preventing homelessness before it starts and its potential to dramatically reshape the fight against homelessness. This donation represents a key milestone in HomeStart’s efforts to expand its offerings, including: scaling its disruptive and innovative eviction prevention model known as the Renew Collaborative beyond Massachusetts; piloting new innovative solutions to address housing insecurity; and doubling the number of clients served from 1,500 to 3,000. The donation’s unrestricted nature enables HomeStart to utilize these funds in the most effective and direct ways, allowing it to have the greatest impact on the housing affordability crisis, with no caveats that may prevent the organization from reaching its objectives.
“We are incredibly grateful to Northland for this significant investment in HomeStart and all that it will allow us to accomplish in our fight against housing insecurity in Massachusetts and beyond,” said Matt Pritchard, President and Executive Director of HomeStart. “Northland is a true housing advocate and has been a champion of our cause for many years now, and this donation has set us on a path of incredible momentum. Support like this will have a transformative impact on our efforts, and we look forward to our continued partnership to ensure that everyone, regardless of economic status, has a place to call home.”
With over 26,000 residential units in its portfolio, Northland has become a leader in the U.S.’s real estate industry dedicated to leveraging its reputation and financial power to enact lasting positive change on renters and homeowners across the country. CEO Matthew Gottesdiener has been involved with HomeStart for five years, currently serving on its Board of Directors and acting as its Treasurer. Inspired by the organization’s steadfast dedication to supporting underserved populations and impressed by the number of families and individuals that it has helped over the years, Matthew and Northland pursued this donation to help the organization expand its operations and further provide critical support to families in need across the country.
“It is an honor to partner with such an outstanding organization that is truly leading the fight against homelessness,” said Matthew Gottesdiener, CEO of Northland. “We hope that this collaboration and donation will set an example for other industry players, and that we can all work together to catalyze real change for renters and homeowners across the country. We are thrilled to support HomeStart and its amazing work providing resources to unhoused people throughout the Commonwealth, working with individuals and families to prevent them from experiencing homelessness, and expanding its groundbreaking initiatives into new markets.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the housing crisis that has been devastating vulnerable families for years and disproportionately affecting communities of color and single parent households – and the crisis is only projected to get worse. With a lack of adequate government funding and insufficient COVID-19 federal relief, HomeStart and other organizations have stepped up to develop transformational programs and initiatives that work directly with individuals who are at risk of or are currently experiencing homelessness to prevent the cycle from starting. Northland’s donation will help bring HomeStart’s vision to life in new U.S. cities and help countless individuals avoid housing insecurity.
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About HomeStart
HomeStart is a Massachusetts-based nonprofit dedicated to ending homelessness in Greater Boston by assisting individuals and families in obtaining and stabilizing their housing situations by developing strategies to prevent homelessness before it starts. For more information, visit www.homestart.org, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.