Affordable for Who? Atlanta Housing’s Mission to Make Homeownership an Accessible Dream

By Terri M. Lee, President and Chief Executive Officer, Atlanta Housing& Atlanta Housing (AH) is in the business of solving big problems. As Georgia’s largest housing authority and one of the nation’s most substantial, we are emerging as a global beacon in tackling one of humanity’s most urgent dilemmas: affordable housing. As housing prices remain high, and interest rates continue to rise, the dream of homeownership has become an increasingly elusive goal for many. For families with low to moderate incomes, this dream can seem almost insurmountable. The housing crisis calls for immediate and compassionate action, and Atlanta Housing is at the forefront of this charge. AH is taking bold strides to make the American Dream of homeownership a reality by equipping individuals with the necessary tools, resources, and funding to climb the ladder of economic mobility. As we continue to encourage homeownership as an affordable housing solution, the ever-relevant question posed by the late Atlanta Housing Commissioner James Allen, “Affordable for who?” continues to guide our actions. While 96% of Atlanta Housing households are classified as either extremely or very low-income, with 75% earning less than $30,650 per year, our down payment assistance program extends its reach to families...