First-of-its-kind Atlanta program leverages $200 million public private investment for affordable housing

ATLANTA—May 2, 2023 – Mayor Andre Dickens and Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta President and CEO Frank Fernandez announced a historic investment of public and philanthropic resources to bring affordable quality housing to all who call Atlanta home. The combined $200 million in new funds represents an opportunity to build and preserve affordable housing in Atlanta at an unprecedented scale and pace.

Mayor Dickens is working with Atlanta City Council to pass a new affordable housing bond that will create an additional $100 million in funding.

The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta received a generous $100 million commitment from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation and Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation, providing dollars to further leverage the proposed public funding. The Community Foundation will partner with the City of Atlanta and others to ensure deeper, long-term affordability for communities with a higher risk for displacement.

“Affordable housing has been central in my Administration and today’s announcement is a gamechanger in our ability to have projects keep pace with a rapidly evolving market,” said Mayor Dickens. “Thank you to the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation and Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation for their generosity, Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta for their steadfast partnership and the Atlanta City Council in advance for their collaboration on this once in a generation opportunity to provide affordability relief for Atlantans.”

The potential funding source will authorize an additional $100 million housing bond which will support the following:

• Expedite the development of affordable housing on publicly-owned land;
• Preserve affordability where it already exists with infusions of subsidy to provide safe, dignified and high-quality communities;
• Secure additional funding needed to get shovel-ready projects under construction.

Community Foundation President and CEO Frank Fernandez, commented, “In every city, the trends have been moving in the wrong direction for entirely too long and too many people are struggling,” Fernandez said. “But we have a window of time particularly in the next three years to change the trajectory in Atlanta. That is why we are moving with urgency to bring together all our partners, to have all hands-on deck, and make a lasting change in housing. Our goal is to support better housing policies, programs, and significantly more production and preservation of affordable housing, so we can have neighborhoods and a city reflective of our values.”

Russ Hardin, CEO of The Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, commented, “The stars are aligned to address the lack of affordable housing in Atlanta. The Mayor has made it a top priority, and housing advocates together with experienced real estate professionals have organized – in alignment with the Mayor and the Atlanta Housing Authority – to address the issue. The Woodruff and Whitehead Foundations are pleased to invest in the Community Foundation’s leadership, and we are hopeful that the return on our investment will mean well-located, decent, affordable housing for more Atlantans.”

The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta’s funds will go to support both low-cost loans and grants for deeper and longer terms of affordability to address our community’s growing housing challenges.

Mayor Andre Dickens is focused on building A City of Opportunity for All. This vision includes ensuring that all Atlantans have access to safe, quality and affordable housing – which is why Mayor Dickens has pledged to build or preserve 20,000 units of affordable housing.

About the Announcement Partners

Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta inspires and leads the Atlanta region toward equity and shared prosperity for all who call it home. TogetherATL is the Foundation’s strategic ethos, working through a collaborative approach with community stakeholders, donors, nonprofits and others to examine complex challenges the region faces and create solutions that build a thriving region. Started in 1951, the Community Foundation shepherds approximately $1.4 billion in current assets through its 1,000+ donor funds, while simultaneously raising and deploying more than $120 million annually to thousands of nonprofit organizations. For more information visit: cfgreateratlanta.org or connect with the Foundation via Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

For more information about the City of Atlanta, please visit www.atlantaga.gov or watch City Channel 26. Follow the City of Atlanta on Facebook and Twitter @CityofAtlanta.

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