Veteran city employee to close on her first home thanks to Marietta housing program

Tracey Cephas, who has worked for the Sanitation Services Division for the City of Marietta for nearly 20 years. (Courtesy of City of the Marietta)

Tracey Cephas has worked for the Sanitation Services Division for the City of Marrietta for a long time. She says mid-October marks 20 years.

Despite the professional milestone, Cephas, who is a manager, says it’s difficult to pay for her monthly expenses.

“It’s difficult because the cost of food, your utilities, your gas — just everything since the COVID,” Cephas said. “I was struggling then, but it really went to another level after the COVID.”

Cephas’ story is very similar to other public service employees in Marietta. But thanks to a new partnership between the City of Marietta and the Habitat for Humanity NW Metro Atlanta — Cephas and five other employees will have the opportunity to own a brand-new home.

On Friday’s edition of “Closer Look,” Cephas and Kelsey Thompson-White, the community development manager for of City of Marietta, along with Jessica Gill, the president and CEO of the Habitat for Humanity NW Metro Atlanta, talked with show host Rose Scott about the Marietta Public Service Housing Program. The city used dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act to provide six zero-interest affordable homes for City of Marietta and Marietta City School employees.