Metro Atlanta’s affordable housing is on the decline. According to the Atlanta Regional Commission, the area lost over 230,000 affordable units from 2018 to 2023.
It’s a stark number from the Atlanta Regional Commission. CEO Anna Roach presented the data at the Atlanta Regional Housing Forum hosted by the Atlanta Regional Commission on March 13, where Atlanta, Cobb, DeKalb County and Gwinnett County leaders brainstormed creative solutions to the housing problem. The event was called Regional Action on Affordable Housing Development.
“It’s time for us to move beyond the planning and actually take some action,” Roach said.
The CEO warned that affordable areas have “virtually disappeared” from Metro Atlanta. Since 2018, the region has lost 54,000 units with rent less than $800 and 178,000 units with rent between $800 and $1,500.
At the same time, housing with rent above $1,500 grew by about 260,000 units. Roach said the data proves Metro Atlanta isn’t ready to welcome 1.8 million new residents by 2050, but she believes teamwork and strategy can solve the problem.
“We cannot plan for this region without addressing the issue of affordability, and so one of the things that we have invested in so far is called the Metro Atlanta housing strategy,” Roach said.
The strategy is a tool kit to provide detailed data about the housing profile of each community so leaders can tackle individual housing issues. The ARC also plans to update the regional housing strategy with new market data in the coming months.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens pointed out a major challenge facing the housing push: rising construction costs. With expected tariffs, inflation and supply chain issues, access to construction materials is becoming more difficult.
Despite the data, regional leaders pointed to some major housing wins. DeKalb County is set to create its first county-wide affordable housing plan that will also help the unhoused population. The city of Canton is set to develop its first “Housing Trust Fund,” and South Fulton is finishing up its first housing assessment.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens also pointed to “creative” solutions like office-to-residential conversion. In September, Georgia Pacific announced plans to turn the downtown headquarters into a massive mixed-use development with 400 apartments.
Dickens has long focused on affordable housing. At the forum, Dickens said his administration is building or has completed 11,000 affordable units already. He aims to build or preserve 20,000 units by 2030.
The mayor said he wanted to be public about housing goals to keep himself accountable and encouraged the region to do the same.
“I really do want to hear where our regional partners lie on their goals of building or preserving affordable housing because I’d really like to help push you to be able to get there,” Dickens said.
Atlanta Regional Commission CEO stressed to the crowd of regional leaders, planners and stakeholders that nobody is taking on the daunting issue alone.
“You’ve got leaders from all across the region that are investing, that are planning, and that are implementing things to address that, so you’re not alone,” Roach said. “I think collectively we will be able to accomplish this vision we have of the ARC for Metro Atlanta — to be one great region.”
“Despite the data, regional leaders pointed to some major housing wins. DeKalb County is set to create its first county-wide affordable housing plan that will also help the unhoused population.”
Why not create ULI housing that is attached to an organic farm, the residents of the apartment must work the crops which are then sold. The resulting revenue is then applied to pay rent and the residents keep the excess – this is how we beat inflation
Missing from the discussion is the huge impact of the short-term rental market.
Where have the affordable units gone? They’re now let short-term. In my short street there are now 7 former long-term residences (duplex, single fam, basement apartments) let short-term. Why is not the hotel industry screaming about this? Why has the city let this happen? Many office holders and their middle class friends own short-term rentals. Some hotel companies own dozens of them, or whole apartment blocks. Other cities’ published studies prove this is commercial interests prevailing over human need. Atlanta needs New York style regulation of the short-term rental industry.