Atlanta’s Habitat for Humanity is exploring a new type of project to serve the metro area, using this method in response to the rising demand for housing.
Habitat is known for building single-family homes, one at a time, over its 40-plus years of operations.
According to the CEO of Atlanta’s Habitat chapter, Rosalyn Merrick, land throughout the area has become expensive and scarce.
“That has to drive a strategy around, ‘OK, well, if there’s less land that we can access, then we have to be really ever more intentional about the best possible use for that land.’ And one of the strategies is higher density,” Merrick said.
In this case, higher density refers to an increased number of homes with less square footage on plots of land—think townhomes, for instance.
Habitat has already tried this more extensive project approach in some areas south of Interstate 20, including South Atlanta’s Browns Mill Village and Lovejoy’s Hannah Springs.
“The beauty of it is that you ‘re able to maximize the land that’s in that particular community … to turn it into a viable recourse that actually brings life to that community,” said Adrienne Goolsby, the vice president of Habitat for Humanity International.
“When looking at large-scale development, it allows you to invest in a way where you can leverage your dollars more efficiently,” she added.
Habitat officials say these neighborhood-style developments aim to create more homeowners, specifically within underserved communities.
The Atlanta Regional Commission reported in 2023 that Black and Hispanic families’ homeownership rates were at about 55% compared to white families, which were at nearly 80%.
Merrick believes homeownership is “stabilizing” for lower-income families.
“These are individuals who contribute so much to our economy and the fabric of our communities. We’re talking about public school teachers, policemen and women, people who work in our local grocery stores and who deliver our mail,” the CEO said.
“It’s really important to not lose sight of their families’ need. They deserve an opportunity to create wealth building of legacy.”
Officials with Habitat believe that higher-density neighborhoods will help increase the number of families in need of support while also fostering a new sense of community.
