South Fulton Today

Prior to his election, Mayor Andre Dickens committed to a goal of building or preserving 20,000 units of affordable housing by 2030. To meet this target, Dickens has been innovative in sourcing resources for new housing opportunities within the city.

Since 2022, over 3,000 affordable housing units have been established, and nearly 5,000 are under development. The city aims to assist Atlanta residents most in need—"from legacy residents and low-income households to the city's unhoused population."

In May 2022, Dickens initiated the Affordable Housing Strike Force comprising leaders from various sectors such as housing, education, and transportation. Last year alone, this group advanced 40 public land projects through the development pipeline.

Under the Strike Force's guidance, the Atlanta Urban Development Corporation (AUD) was created. It is staffed by real estate professionals with input from city employees. The AUD's mission is to identify publicly owned properties and collaborate with private developers.

The median house list price in Atlanta stands at $375,000 compared to the national median of $449,000. However, homeownership remains challenging for many residents. The area's median income (AMI) for a family of four is $86,000; those earning less are considered low income.

"Families at this income level will have difficulty affording housing in many parts of the metro," says Dan Immergluck, professor of urban studies at Georgia State University on LinkedIn.