Men in Philanthropy: Waddell Wright

As a sixth-generation Nashville landowner and entrepreneur with a thriving real estate and construction business, Waddell Wright has a passion for housing those in need. Waddell has been in construction and development for 28 years and develops land, apartments and houses with a focus on providing stable housing for low- to moderate-income families. After becoming involved with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in 2012, Waddell had a front-row view into how policy was set. He saw the red tape that prolonged the process for those in need to finally obtain housing. 

When a friend called from The Contributor about someone in need of emergency placement, Waddell immediately stepped in to house the person. He realized how great it felt to help someone in need — and stuck with it. For six years, Waddell has worked with a range of organizations to provide clean, safe and stable housing to those in need. 

“My favorite aspect is the collective impact that all these organizations make,” says Waddell. “There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to housing. The employees and people who run these organizations are passionate about helping people, and their dedication and conviction to supply people with one of the most basic of human needs resonates with me.”

Through his work, Waddell continues to see hope for the future of housing. Recently, he’s worked with the Cookeville Housing Authority to develop over 400 units of public and affordable housing. 

“My hope [is for] a centralized location that houses all the necessary resources for individuals experiencing homelessness, from intake to outpatient care,” Waddell explains. “I’ve seen this model succeed with the Hospitality Hub in Memphis, where people can access everything from showers, medical care and IDs to temporary shelter, jobs and domestic violence support — all in one place.”