HouseATL recommends 23 calls to action

In an effort to improve housing affordability in the five-county metro Atlanta area, HouseATL’s board has approved 23 recommendations that will be presented at the Nov. 29 convening of its members.  

That gathering will include a presentation on the state’s policy agenda and a panel focused on implementing the recommendations for households earning below 50 percent of the area median income.

“Amid the changing housing landscape with rising home prices, high mortgage rates and population growth, these recommendations offer positive actions that can be taken across sectors by developers, policymakers, civic leaders, nonprofit service providers, community members and funders,” said Margaret Stagmeier, a board co-chair of HouseATL and a partner in TriStar Real Estate Investments.

Janis Ware, also a HouseATL board co-chair and executive director of SUMMECH CDC, said increasing housing affordability required coordinated action across sectors.

“We are proud to be a cross-sector convenor. Our new strategic recommendations will foster collective action on regional housing affordability,” she said. 

Natallie Keiser, HouseATL executive director, said the new recommendations would guide the organization’s 378 coalition members to implement actions and policies to support affordable housing over the next three years.

“Our immediate next step is advancing a policy agenda for the upcoming state legislative session,” Keiser said.

HouseATL has voted to prioritize the following six recommendations:

• Dedicating revenue sources for affordable housing development 
• Enhancing and protecting renters’ rights 
• Creating sustainable funding sources for housing under 50 percent of the area median income 
• Prioritizing publicly owned assets for affordable housing
• Providing resources to encourage affordable homes by home builders 
• Securing property…