BREAKING NEWS: Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks Invests \$3.6 Million to Transform Tennessee House into Shelter for Homeless Youth
*By Julia Mendez | ESPN Feature Contributor*
**NASHVILLE, Tenn. — May 5, 2025**
In a powerful gesture of compassion and purpose, Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard has announced a \$3.6 million personal investment to transform a neglected estate in South Nashville into a fully operational shelter and transitional living facility for homeless youth.
The shelter, named **”Lillard House,”** is the result of a year-long, deeply personal journey for the NBA icon—a journey rooted not in the spotlight of basketball stardom but in quiet moments of reflection following a national tragedy that deeply affected him.
### A Moment That Changed Everything
Lillard, known for his poetic lyrics and fearless performances on the court, was moved to action after reading about the death of a 17-year-old homeless teen in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in January 2024. The teen, identified only as “Jay,” died from exposure during an unexpected winter storm. Lillard, a father himself, was shaken.
“That headline just punched me in the chest,” Lillard said during an emotional press conference held on the property’s front steps. “It was cold, and a kid died alone in a tent while I was in a heated hotel room playing a game. I couldn’t shake it.”
Lillard said he kept Jay’s story in his mind throughout the remainder of the season, researching youth homelessness and speaking privately with advocates and youth shelter directors across the country. His offseason wasn’t spent promoting products or filming commercials—but walking the streets of Nashville under the radar.
“What I saw broke my heart,” he said. “Kids barely older than my son, sleeping in church parking lots, gas stations, under bridges. I knew I had to do more than just donate. I had to build.”
### A Vision of Healing and Opportunity
The property, a 19th-century plantation home long abandoned and marked for demolition, was purchased by Lillard in early 2024. While the house had been a symbol of Southern wealth and painful history, Lillard’s intention was clear: to repurpose the past into something redemptive.
The \$3.6 million investment—entirely self-funded—is being used to restore the house with state-of-the-art amenities and turn it into a long-term living and empowerment center for homeless youth aged 14 to 22. Lillard House will feature:
* 18 private rooms for residents
* On-site counseling, job training, and financial literacy programs
* Music and recording studios funded by Lillard’s Front Page Music label
* A performance space for youth poetry nights and storytelling events
* A wellness kitchen, meditation garden, and secure recreation yard
* A basketball half-court built to NBA standards
But Lillard emphasized that this is more than a building—it’s a lifeline.
“It’s not about saving people,” he said. “It’s about making sure they feel seen, loved, and prepared to step into their own light.”
### Community and Collaboration
Lillard has partnered with **LaunchTN**, a Tennessee-based nonprofit that specializes in youth homelessness interventions. The organization will run day-to-day operations at the shelter and train formerly homeless youth to take on leadership and mentorship roles.
“When Damian first called us, we thought it was a prank,” said Tamara Shields, Executive Director of LaunchTN. “But he was serious, humble, and full of heart. This is not about publicity for him—it’s about presence.”
The Milwaukee Bucks have also voiced their full support. Head coach Adrian Griffin released a statement praising Lillard’s leadership off the court.
“He’s the soul of our team,” Griffin said. “What he’s doing in Tennessee reflects exactly who he is—someone who walks with integrity and lifts others even when no one’s watching.”
### Rapper, Role Model, Revolutionary
Known by his rap name *Dame D.O.L.L.A.*, Lillard has long used his music to reflect on social justice and personal growth. His next album, *Brick by Brick*, due out this summer, reportedly includes a track called “Shelter,” inspired by the teen whose death started this mission.
“There’s a bar in the song,” Lillard explained. “It says, ‘If I got ten roofs and you sleep in rain, then I’m failing.’ That’s how I feel.”
He’s also pledged that 100% of proceeds from that single will go to fund ongoing services at Lillard House.
“I don’t want to just open the doors. I want to keep them open for decades.”
### Why Tennessee?
Though Lillard is a California native and plays in Wisconsin, he has a soft spot for Tennessee—especially Nashville, where he recorded much of his 2023 album and frequently retreats during the offseason to write and recharge.
“It’s quiet here. I hear myself think,” he said. “But I also saw the gaps—how this city’s booming with money and tech, but still has kids invisible on the edges.”
Local leaders agree. According to Nashville’s 2024 Youth Homelessness Census, nearly 1,900 minors experienced housing instability last year, a number that’s risen steadily over the past decade.
Mayor Lydia Owens, present at Monday’s event, called Lillard’s investment “transformative.”
“We’ve waited years for someone with national stature to take this issue seriously,” she said. “Today, Damian Lillard didn’t just give us hope—he gave us a plan.”
### Opening This Fall
Lillard House is set to open in November 2025. Renovations began last month, and Lillard personally toured the site twice in April. Construction crews are preserving parts of the home’s original stone while replacing the roof, rewiring the structure for solar power, and adding new dorm wings.
A team of youth advisors—some formerly homeless themselves—are helping design the interior, from choosing paint colors to curating the music space.
Lillard says he’ll be in attendance for the grand opening and plans to host monthly music and mentorship nights when his schedule allows.
“My dream is to sit in that house one day, hear a kid playing beats in that studio, and know they’ve found a place to belong,” he said. “That’s a win bigger than anything on the scoreboard.”
### A Legacy Beyond the Game
At 34, Damian Lillard’s career may be entering its later chapters, but moments like this show his story is far from over.
He’s no longer just “Dame Time” the clutch shooter—he’s Damian Lillard, builder of dreams, protector of youth, and a man who’s putting his heart where his highlight reel once lived.
As the press conference ended, Lillard stood silently in the Tennessee sun, looking up at the house that once embodied privilege—and now, hope.
“There’s always room to turn the story around,” he said. “This is mine.”