As the region and the nation struggle with historic low housing stock levels and skyrocketing rent and mortgage payments, local governments are taking a closer look at policies and publicly owned property that could be leveraged to develop affordable housing.

 

In May 2022, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens activated and charged the members of its “Strike Force” to coordinate City agencies and nonprofits to prioritize and fast-track affordable developments on more than 877 acres on 490 parcels of city-owned land. In August, the Strike Force announced five initiatives to be fast-tracked. The City also recently broke ground on its first faith-based development project, an initiative that hopes to build 2,000 affordable housing units toward the Mayor’s goal of 20,000. To date, Mayor Dickens’ administration has seen the production of 1,739 units, with another 3,940 under construction.

 

But local government action on affordable housing isn’t limited to the City of Atlanta. At its State of the Region Breakfast, Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) announced the results of its “Local Leadership Housing Action Committee.”

 

After a year of diving deep into the data, policy, and best practices, 12 mayors and county commissions from around the region have pledged to work in their respective communities to address affordable housing concerns. Members of the committee have made commitments to pursue diverse housing options with access to essential services, create housing authorities and task forces, conduct comprehensive studies, review zoning and land-use regulations, explore incentives to help developers offer units at an affordable rate, and allow duplexes and tiny homes to be built, and examine into employer-assisted housing models.

​

OUR PRESENTERS:

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

​

​

At the next Atlanta Regional Housing Forum, we’ll discuss Atlanta’s Strike Force and the commitments made by local jurisdictions to address affordable housing.

 

Lastly, as 2022 ends, all eyes are focused on the 2023 legislative agenda. Georgia House and Senate have recently conducted study committees on “Regulation, Affordability, and Access to Housing”, and “Unsheltered Homelessness,” respectively. At the next Forum, we’ll discuss those conversations and what affordable housing policy opportunities exist in the year ahead.

 

Join us Wednesday, December 7, at 9:30 a.m., at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church (or online) as we discuss these issues and more.

 

​