the dni combines vacant lots acquired via eminent domain with cityowned parcels and leases these to private and nonprofit developers for the purpose of building affordable housing consistent with the community s master plan according to the initiative s annual report the group had an annual budget of around usd million which was allocated to programme costs administrative costs community capacity building and special events it has historically relied on loans from organisations including a usd million loan from the ford foundation and usd million from the riley foundation to acquire vacant lots and reconvert them