James Equities was founded by Douglas James, whose career spans government service, legal practice, and non-profit leadership. His unique vantage point—working inside the agencies that fund, regulate, and contract with homeless housing developers—gives James Equities an uncommon advantage in navigating complex development processes.
As Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel for the Center for Urban Community Services, Douglas oversaw property development, asset management, human resources, and legal affairs for New York City’s leading provider of homeless services. He managed projects from acquisition through operation, gaining firsthand knowledge of what works and what doesn’t in supportive housing development.
Before joining CUCS, Douglas served as Deputy Commissioner for Adult Services at the NYC Department of Homeless Services, where he oversaw the single adult transitional housing system and outreach networks. He also served as Senior Advisor to the Commissioner at the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs. Earlier in his career, he worked as a civil rights litigator, bringing a legal precision to policy and operational challenges.
Douglas holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and a B.A. from Columbia University. His combination of legal expertise, government experience, and operational knowledge allows James Equities to identify opportunities others miss and execute projects others can’t.