Atlanta, GA (October 11, 2024) – Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH), a national nonprofit intermediary and Community Development Financial Institution, and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) have announced the selected participants in the state’s inaugural Supportive Housing Institute. Five teams and two groups of individual entities representing housing developers and service providers were selected after a competitive application process.
This year marks the inaugural Georgia Supportive Housing Institute, a signature CSH program designed to kick start affordable and supportive housing development throughout the state. The rigorous Institute curriculum covers a number of topics for developing multi-family properties including design concepts, securing funding, ongoing operations, and service delivery. Georgia joins several other states that have leveraged the Institute to advance affordable and supportive housing in their communities. The Georgia Supportive Housing Institute is fully funded by the HOME American Rescue Plan Program.
“Executing our common vision to increase cross-sector collaboration and access to housing and services across Georgia, we are excited to partner with DCA to enhance the capacity and knowledge needed for successful supportive housing development”, said Deirdre Bolden, CSH Southeast Director. “The intention shown by the first Georgia Institute teams to learn and develop quality supportive housing represents a commitment to serving our neighbors and is a transformative step to address the needs of our residents across the state.”
“The launch of the Supportive Housing Institute marks a significant milestone in DCA and CSH’s efforts to address the affordable housing crisis in Georgia,” said Philip Gilman, DCA Deputy Commissioner of Housing Assistance and Development. “This partnership aligns with our commitment to ensuring that every Georgian has the opportunity to thrive in safe, affordable housing.”
According to the 2023 National Low Income Housing Coalition Out of Reach report, residents that are currently working at a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour would have to work 140 hours each week to afford a modest 1-bedroom rental home at Fair Market Rent. The report asserts that Georgia has 543,837 rental households that are at 50 percent of the Area Median Income.
Supportive housing combines quality affordable housing with community-based support services that help people with additional needs to live with stability, autonomy, and dignity. Teams will also be able to apply for CSH’s Community Investment loan products designed to guide developers through the pre-development process.
In addition, each lead organization participating in the Institute can apply for funding through DCA’s Housing Tax Credit Program and subject to discretion by DCA, an anticipated Supportive Housing Notice of Funding Opportunity, where Institute participation provides points in the scoring.
And for the first time in a CSH Institute – representatives from developers, service providers and property managers – applied and have been allowed to participate. Forming conceptual teams from these unconnected entities, representatives can glean information from the institute and make useful connections.
Below is a list of organizations and individual entities participating in this year’s Institute:
Team 1 (Decatur, GA)
|
Team Lead & Developer |
The Paces Foundation, Inc./Paces Preservation Partners, LLC |
|
Development Consultant |
The Kelsey |
|
Property Manager |
Envolve Communities |
|
Service Provider |
Claratel Behavioral Health |
|
Community Collaborator |
Better Living Together |
Team 2 (Atlanta, GA)
|
Team Lead & Developer |
Gorman & Company, LLC |
|
Property Manager |
Gorman & Company, LLC |
|
Service Provider |
HOPE Atlanta |
|
Community Partner/ CoC Representative |
Partners for HOME |
Team 3 (Athens, GA)
|
Team Lead |
Athens Homeless Coalition |
|
Developer & Property Manager |
Woda Cooper Companies, Inc. |
|
Real Estate Consultant |
Athens Downtown Development Authority |
|
Housing Consultant |
Athens Housing Authority |
|
Service Provider |
Advantage Behavioral Health |
|
Community Collaborator |
Exclusive Mindz |
Team 4 (Cornelia, GA)
|
Team Lead & Service Provider |
Georgia Mountain Women’s Center, Inc. / Circle of Hope |
|
Developer |
Tapestry Development Group |
|
Property Manager |
PHASE Housing Management |
|
Community Collaborator |
Circle of Hope |
Team 5 (Warner Robins, GA / Gwinnett County, GA)
|
Developer |
Zimmerman Properties Southeast |
|
Property Manager |
Wilhoit Properties |
|
Service Provider |
Veterans Empowerment Organization |
Individual entities participating and learning as conceptual teams include representatives from the following organizations:
Community Friendship, Inc.
Covenant House Georgia, Inc. (CHGA)
LDG Development, LLC
National Church Residences
Porch and Square
The Boyce L. Ansley School
Volunteers of America Southeast
Zion Hill Community Development Corporation
About the Department of Community Affairs
The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) partners with communities to build strong and vibrant neighborhoods, commercial and industrial areas through community and economic development, local government assistance, and safe and affordable housing. Using state and federal resources, DCA helps communities spur private job creation, implement planning, develop downtowns, generate affordable housing solutions, and promote volunteerism. DCA also helps qualified Georgians with low and moderate incomes buy homes, rental housing and prevent foreclosure and homelessness. For more information, visit www.dca.ga.gov.
