Impact

Overview

Impact Investing is one of the fastest growing segments of the $3.2 trillion sustainable investing market.

Impact investing is the intention of creating measurable positive, social and environmental change in our communities and for our stakeholders, while generating attractive market returns. Integrating impact into our projects is financially attractive and actively contributes to our mission of making a meaningful positive and lasting impact within our communities.

As an investor and developer of communities, Dream is in a strong position to improve sustainability and advance socio-economic equality through purposeful development and management of real estate.

rendering of people enjoying west don lands community
Our Focus

Impact Investing Focus

The Trust is well positioned, with its existing assets and robust development pipeline, to deliver strong financial returns to its stakeholders, while having a meaningful, positive impact along three verticals: Environmental Sustainability and Resilience, Attainable and Affordable Housing, and Inclusive Communities. Our three impact verticals align with the universally recognized and accepted UN SDGs.

Environmental Sustainability and Resilience

Develop sustainable real estate that optimizes energy use, limits greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions, and reduces water use and waste while also creating resiliency against natural disasters and major climatic events.

Attainable and Affordable Housing

Invest in mixed-income communities that are transit oriented, located close to employment opportunities, and support an overall lower relative cost of living with high quality of life.

Inclusive
Communities

Intentionally design and program communities that are safe and inclusive for everyone. This includes creating spaces that encourage mental and physical health, and wellness.

The Trust’s portfolio strategy will be anchored by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (“UN SDGs”) and it will report its impact performance against the leading standards as they evolve. Together, these verticals are aligned with 13 of the 17 UN SDGs, which have the support of 162 countries and territories.

Approach to Impact Management

Dream’s impact effort will be consistent with leading industry frameworks. We are committed to an impact management approach that incorporates guidelines from the world’s leading impact and sustainable accounting bodies. Our approach will be guided by

Intentionality

For every impact investment, Dream creates an impact plan that identifies multiple pathways to impact, each of which is aligned with a UN SDG and has a measurable outcome with key performance indicators.

Measurement

For each pathway, impact will be scored according to various dimensions. We intend to measure our impact efforts in a repeatable, systematic way, consistent with broadly recognized sustainability accounting standards.

Verification

Our processes and our Dream Impact Management System will be verified by a recognized independent firm.

Dream Impact Management System

Dream’s impact pathways are the internal system we use to measure the impact each investment creates on a consistent basis across the portfolio. They allow us to understand, evaluate, and effectively communicate the impact we are generating.

Primary

Primary pathways are the methods in which Dream intends to provide positive impact, each of which is aligned with a UN SDG and has a measurable outcome with key performance indicators.

Secondary

Secondary pathways are an extension of our impact pathways, and they are meant to further illustrate the benefits that our assets have on individuals, families, and the communities within which we operate.

Negative

Negative pathways are the negative externalities that Dream’s business activities may have on people and the environment.