HouseATL’s member driven Working Groups are essential to advancing progress on HouseATL’s strategic recommendations. To join one of the Working Groups below, please complete the membership application and then join your selected working group(s) using the member platform.
If you are already a member, simply log into your HouseATL Member account to manage your working groups.
Email [email protected] if you need any assistance.
Homeownership
The Homeownership Working Group is implementing strategies to increase affordable and sustainable homeownership in Atlanta for low and moderate income households, with a focus on Black and Brown families who have historically had lower ownership rates.
Past Progress: This working group has supported homebuyer education fairs, conducted presentations on affordable homeownership, educated existing homeowners and homebuyers via HOME Expos, and connected real estate professionals to the Urban League’s new HUB (Homeownership Urban Blueprint). They engaged with the Urban Land Institute to produce recommendations for a common platform for home repair services. They offer a monthly Affordable Living Showcases to promote for-sale homes, downpayment assistance and affordable financing. They also supported the creation of a toolkit for homebuilders who are interested in partnering with nonprofits to produce affordable homes.
Rental Housing Preservation
The Rental Preservation Working Group works to ensure that tools for preserving affordable rental housing are abundant and flexible, and thus residents, both owners and renters, find that existing affordable housing stock is available, safe, and well maintained as affordable long-term.
Past Progress: This working group has researched property tax exemptions and private enterprise agreements for affordable rental housing, supported the redesign and expansion of the rental housing preservation database, and supported partners like Enterprise’s Preservation Next and the Atlanta Preservation Initiative.
Policy
The Policy Working Group coordinates efforts of various partners on state and local affordable housing policies and regulatory reform that will advance affordable housing and the strategic recommendations of HouseATL.
Past Progress: Provided testimony to state and local legislative bodies. Co-hosted educational sessions for state legislators on housing issues. Influenced the state’s Low Income Housing Tax Credit Qualified Allocation Plan with regular recommendations. Members achieved state legislative expansion of City Urban Enterprise Zone, state support for tax recognition of land trust properties, and state healthy housing and safe at home legislation. At the city and county level, approval was obtained in DeKalb County for a Housing Plan, Affordable Housing Fund and a feasibility study for a community land trust. Candidate forums for county elections were hosted. Advocacy has occurred to support and improve the City of Atlanta’s Housing Trust Fund and tree ordinance update, among other policy issues.
Prioritizing Communities
The Prioritizing Communities Working Group advocates for low- and moderate-income people in Metro Atlanta’s predominantly Black and Brown neighborhoods to be able to prosper in place, despite the significant market shifts and broader community changes around them.
Past Progress: Conducted extensive survey of service provider landscape and mapped emergency assistance resources. Convened service providers, assessed the need, and advocated for streamlined distribution of emergency assistance. Helped improve the City of Atlanta’s COVID recovery fund distributions for emergency assistance and the 211 system. Developed a report recommending further system improvements (View report). Informed ARCHI’s “Invert the Burden” initiative resulting in a common emergency assistance application portal. Supported Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation in the launch of the Housing Court Assistance Center followed by an access to legal counsel pilot. Developed tenants’ rights education information.
Sustainable and Resilient Housing Working Group
The Sustainable and Resilient Housing Working Group brings together advocates, developers, policymakers, utilities, and community partners to advance practical solutions that make affordable housing in metro Atlanta healthier, more energy efficient, and better prepared for the future. As part of HouseATL’s cross-sector network of more than 400 members working to expand equitable housing opportunities, this new member-led group helps move forward key recommendations focused on sustainability and resilience. The working group provides education on evolving energy-efficiency rebates and incentives, promotes early sustainability planning in affordable housing development, elevates opportunities for engagement with the Georgia Public Service Commission, monitors policies such as the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Qualified Allocation Plan and energy codes, and connects local stakeholders with national decarbonization resources. By creating a collaborative space for learning, policy engagement, and practical action, the group aims to ensure that affordable homes across the region are not only accessible, but also efficient, durable, and affordable to live in for generations to come.
Funders Collective
Please visit this page for information on the Funders Collective and Pipeline Review Committee.