Eugene Jones Jr., CEO of the Atlanta Housing Authority since October 2019, has submitted his resignation to Mayor Andre Dickens and his board chair, Larry Stewart.
Jones convened members of the AHA team Tuesday morning to let them know he was leaving, according to people who were present. His last day will be Dec. 31.
In the remarks to his staff, Jones told them he was incredibly proud of the work that they had accomplished during his tenure.
He mentioned the selection of a development team for the Civic Center; being awarded a $40 million federal Choice grant to revitalize the Bowen Homes community, completing a strategic plan with the board and the community, settling a lawsuit with a former AHA CEO – Renee Glover, settling the terms on another lawsuit with the Integral Group, and working with City Hall on plans for Thomasville Heights and Forest Cove Apartments.
The city plans to do a national search for Jones’ successor.
Jones joined the Atlanta Housing Authority during the administration of Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms after serving as head of the Chicago Housing Authority. His career pattern has been to spend three to five years in various public housing positions.
During his tenure, the board of the Atlanta Housing Authority was completely replaced after Dickens became mayor. Many of the former board members had been appointed by former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed.
Mayor Andre Dickens issued the following statement.
I thank Eugene Jones for his service to Atlanta Housing and the people of Atlanta. Eugene has been a close partner on all our affordable housing efforts and thanks to his help, we are on track to reach our goal of creating or preserving 20,000 units over eight years.
Atlanta Housing has made great strides under Eugene’s leadership, and we are grateful he has agreed to stay until the end of the year to ensure continuity until that role is filled.
I have requested that the AH Board conduct a national search to secure the exceptional champion Atlanta deserves to have at the helm of one of our most important institutions.
Atlanta Housing and the City of Atlanta secured a $40 million Choice Neighborhoods grant for the transformation of the former Bowen Homes site, bolstering AH’s efforts to revitalize distressed neighborhoods and enhance the quality of life for some of our most long-underserved residents. This grant will pave the way for a more than $500 million comprehensive neighborhood transformation on the westside of Atlanta.
Eugene started the development process for the Atlanta Civic Center, supported our relocation of residents from Forest Cove and crafted a new five-year vision for AH that has put the organization—alone—on a path to create 10,000 units of affordable housing in eight years—halfway to our goal of 20,000 affordable units. Further, the Housing Choice Voucher program expanded to 19,000 households under his leadership.
Thank you, Eugene, for a job well done.
It’s amazing that the voucher program extended to 19.000 under his leadership while there are thousands of subsidized housing tenants with non-portability where sold to contractors stripping them of the ability to choose where they would like to live, it reminds me of apartheid. I.am a social security disabled 71 year old woman living in a PBRA subsidy unit for 15 years in a community where my quality of life has declined and, I can’t move to a community that is more conducive to my health bc I am tied to this one property. Many calls to AHA for help fell on deaf ears. Did he really help us here in Atlanta ? Just one more thing, I have been on Dekalb County’s waiting list for 10 years get this ( because I live in Fulton County they told me every person who lives in Dekalb County would have to be placed before me regardless of their time on the waiting list.). I had both County’s communicate with each other to no avail. A million low income housing now or over 10 years wouldn’t help me, I probably want be here 10 years from now.
Atleast you have a roof over your head
Bottom line, if it is to be, it’s up to me. I am 77 and feel your pain and honestly, there is only so much you can accomplish in this city because of the powers that be. You have to be creative and please don’t put your faith and trust in the dirty south.
You have more power than you think. And your main power is “Choice”. We must understand the elements and conditions around us and pivot strategically. If it’s raining outside and you need to go somewhere, dress for the occasion. Housing Authorities can’t solve all the problems of the world, but they do have many tools to help bridge the gap in most situations if you put in a little sweat equity and work with them and not against them.