FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — A North Fulton think tank hopes to bring faith-based workforce housing to Metro Atlanta as congregations nationwide have started building affordable homes.
The North Fulton Improvement Network describes itself as a “think tank” made up of community leaders from local nonprofits, faith groups and government organizations focused on “exploring financial vulnerability in our community.”
North Fulton Improvement Network Chairman Jack Murphy has focused his sights on affordable housing in North Fulton County. The homes are “workforce housing,” dedicated to middle-income workers.
“One of the reasons for that is people in middle incomes can’t afford to live here anymore,” Murphy said.
The improvement network said North Fulton County has become an increasingly less affordable area to live in over the years, particularly for minimum-wage workers.
In Georgia the minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. Even with many employees making more than that, Murphy said the income does little to offset high housing costs in North Fulton County.
In Roswell, one of North Fulton County’s larger cities, the population has remained largely the same in recent years, increasing by about 0.1 percent to about 92,000 since 2020. The median gross rent is $1,447.
Murphy said “unbridled growth” is great for the North Fulton communities that have expanded significantly over the decades, but they run the risk of “becoming exclusive.”
Instead, he advocates for more affordable housing where people who work at local businesses can live. The larger question for Murphy and the improvement network, though, is how to get there.
The think tank originally looked at governments for development but quickly decided to pivot to private organizations.
“We’re doing what we call quiet advocacy, with large business owners or employers…
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