Latest news with #AtlantaHousing
Axios
20-07-2025
- Business
- Axios
Atlanta public housing rent hike "pause" could shock Section 8 stock
Atlanta Housing is telling Section 8 landlords to pause plans for rent increases as federal funding uncertainty spreads to local governments. Why it matters: Roughly 11,000 Atlanta households will receive Housing Choice vouchers this fiscal year, according to the housing authority's budget. The vouchers help eligible residents spend no more than 30% of their income on rent and play a vital role in keeping tens of thousands of Atlantans in their homes. Between the lines: The rent hike pause could push some landlords to switch to market-rate tenants, short-term rentals or sales — shrinking Atlanta's supply of affordable housing and creating housing instability. The latest: In a July 15 message to landlords, Alan Ferguson, AH's chief housing and real estate officer, said the authority would not process rent increase requests for Housing Choice Voucher Program participants with contracts renewing on and after July 1 of this year. AH could "reconsider and reinstate" increases if Congress approves new funding or federal officials offer new guidance, Ferguson wrote in the message obtained by Axios. Context: Public housing authorities have been put on notice to expect funding cuts after President Trump called for sweeping changes to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, including a two-year limit on housing aid, according to the Associated Press. AH's 2026 fiscal year budget approved in early July is roughly $80 million less than the previous years' spending plan, WSB reports. The Housing Choice Voucher Program bore the brunt of those cuts; its funding dropped from $389.7 million to $338.58 million. Yes, but: Authority officials said their "goal is to keep our residents housed." They declined to immediately say whether funding earmarked for rent increases would fund other AH programs or operations. Stunning stat: Roughly 20% of Atlanta's multi-family rental housing is supported by AH assistance programs, Ferguson said. What they're saying: Dan Immergluck, a Georgia State University professor emeritus who's studied Atlanta's affordable housing crisis for nearly two decades, told Axios the pause would make it more difficult to find landlords to accept vouchers.
Axios
17-07-2025
- Business
- Axios
Over 200 affordable housing units coming to southwest Atlanta
Another affordable housing project is getting underway on the southwest side of Atlanta. Why it matters: Skyrocketing housing costs and gentrification are making it hard for long-time Atlanta residents to remain in their communities. The latest: Sylvan Hills II will include 233 affordable housing apartments and townhomes built on the site of the former Sylvan Circle Apartments. This project will sit near a 184-unit affordable housing development for older residents that opened two years ago. What they're saying: Alan Ferguson, chief housing and real estate officer for Atlanta Housing, said at a groundbreaking event Tuesday the type of units offered in the new development will range from "efficiencies" to three-bedroom layouts. "What you see here is today is a result of the shared values, the common vision and innovation and belief, and what's possible when you work together," Ferguson said, adding the project is funded through a public-private partnership. Zoom in: Rents will range from $1,149 to $2,100, according to Atlanta Housing. 24 units will be reserved for two-income households making around $45,700 or 50% of the Atlanta region's area median income; 93 units will be for tenants who make 60% of the AMI ($54,840); and 116 units will be for those who bring in 80% of the AMI ($73,120). Where is Sylvan Hills: The neighborhood, which is majority-Black, is bordered by Langford Parkway to the south, Lee Street to the west, the Downtown Connector to the east and Deckner Avenue to the north. The big picture: Mayor Andre Dickens, who set a goal to preserve or add 20,000 affordable housing units by 2030, said the project shows Atlanta is taking "another step forward to this lasting legacy of progress in our great city." So far, Atlanta has completed 6,800 of those units and another 5,000 are already under construction or funded. He also said Atlanta has implemented initiatives, such as a density bonus program and rapid housing projects, to increase the affordable housing supply in the city. Context: Council Member Antonio Lewis, who represents the area, said the project will provide social mobility to people facing economic hardships on the south side of the city. "There simply aren't enough words to express my gratitude for these public-private partnerships which are making these possible," he said. "At the heart of these partnerships is this shared truth that everyone deserves a decent place to live and a place to grow."
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Atlanta city leaders break ground on $63 million housing project
City leaders in Atlanta broke ground on a $63 million housing project on Wednesday. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The land along Yates Drive in northwest Atlanta is where the old Bowen Homes once stood. Those buildings were torn down 16 years ago. This marks the start of construction for the first phase of a $40 million HUD Choice Neighborhoods Initiative. City leaders, Atlanta Housing and its partners are redeveloping the property into a mixed-income community. The first phase will have 151 homes. TRENDING STORIES: On the Border closes all GA restaurants, files for bankruptcy Jonesboro mayor resigns as council calls for audit of city's finances DeKalb deputy fired, charged in thefts from Publix where he worked as security [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Atlanta Housing breaks ground on $64 Million Bowen Homes redevelopment
The Brief Atlanta Housing recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for Phase 1 of the new Bowen Homes development. The housing authority demolished the former public housing site in 2009. Phase 1 will feature 151 mixed-income apartments, and the entire redevelopment will include more than 2,000 housing units. This initial phase is a $64 million project, supported by a $40 million HUD Choice Grant. Leasing for Phase 1 is set to begin in the winter of 2026. ATLANTA - The new Bowen Homes in northwest Atlanta will be on the same 74-acre site where the public housing development sat for more than 40 years. The community was demolished as part of the public housing authority's effort, which began in the '90s, to revitalize old and oftentimes dangerous areas. What they're saying Phase 1 will feature 151 apartments. The entire project will eventually have more than 2,000 units with commercial development as well. "From a rental aspect, they will pay no more than 30% of their income, and we'll come in with the rest with a subsidy," said Terri Lee, Atlanta Housing CEO. The Neighborhood Planning Unit chair for the area, Torrey Sumlin, says this is revitalization, not gentrification. "The community deserves the opportunity to see this development thrive," said Torrey Sumlin, NPU-G Chair. "It sat vacant for so long. We know what the history is here, but now we have the opportunity to bring it back." Dennis Butler, Mook B, of the rap group D4L, grew up in Bowen Homes and still lives nearby. "Look at the smile on my face," said a smiling Butler. "It's such a blessing that they came back; I want me an apartment. Who do I need to talk to?" What's next The project is expected to spur development along James Jackson Parkway and Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway. Dig deeper Atlanta Housing says it is still working with more than 400 former Bowen Homes tenants. All will have a chance to come back to live if they wish. At one time, roughly 4,000 people lived in 650 apartments at Bowen Homes. The Source FOX 5's Kevyn Stewart spoke to residents of Bowen Homes for this article.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Atlanta mayor calls on Trump to ‘immediately restore' funding after freezing federal aid
Atlanta's mayor is calling on the Trump administration to immediately restore 'funding for Atlanta and the entire region' after it announced that it would be putting a pause on federal grants and loans starting at 5 p.m. Tuesday. President Trump said his administration was going to begin an across-the-board ideological review of its spending. It said federal assistance to individuals would not be affected, including Social Security, Medicare, food stamps, student loans and scholarships. However, the funding freeze could affect trillions of dollars, at least temporarily, and cause widespread disruption in healthcare research, education programs and other initiatives. Even grants that have been awarded but not spent are supposed to be halted. In a statement from Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, he said: 'These actions adversely affect not only the City's funding for affordable housing, assistance for our unsheltered residents, economic development projects, salaries and investments in our infrastructure and public safety—they also affect partner agencies like Atlanta Housing, Partners for HOME and other organizations who currently cannot access the portals they use to pay people's rents, operational costs or fund economic programs; in turn placing an even heavier burden on the communities we collectively serve.' TRENDING STORIES: Town Center at Cobb closed after Georgia Power says mall owners haven't paid bills Wife of man arrested by ICE says agents were waiting outside their church in Tucker Delta Lounge at Atlanta airport hiring for over 90 positions at job fair today It's unclear from a White House memo how sweeping the pause will be. Matthew Vaeth, the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, wrote that 'each agency must complete a comprehensive analysis of all of their Federal financial assistance programs to identify programs, projects, and activities that may be implicated by any of the President's executive orders.' He also wrote that the pause should be implemented 'to the extent permissible under applicable law.' 'More than 18,000 residents who rely on housing vouchers currently do not know how their rent will be paid next month, and workers across various federally funded programs risk losing their pay. The Dickens Administration calls on all White House decision makers to immediately restore this funding for Atlanta and the entire region—and the families from all stations of life who will suffer the consequences,' Dickens said. ABC News contributed to this article.
