City of South Fulton Produces First Housing Assessment CDAP Project

CDAP Helps City of South Fulton Complete City's First Housing Assessment

The City of South Fulton is making significant strides in addressing local housing needs, thanks to a crucial partnership with the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) and Atlanta Habitat for Humanity. Initially kicking off in 2024, this collaboration has now reached an important milestone with a presentation on the city's first-ever Housing Assessment analysis being presented to City Council during the March 25 council meeting.

Awarded into the 2024 Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP) by ARC, the City of South Fulton is set to take an essential step in addressing the housing challenges facing the community. The CDAP Program plays a vital role in helping local governments bring their planning activities to life, pairing technical expertise with the resources needed to make real progress.

This partnership exemplifies ARC's commitment to supporting local governments in advancing the goals of the City of South Fulton's growth plan, ultimately enhancing quality of life for all residents. With this assessment, the city is taking a major step toward creating a more sustainable and inclusive housing environment for its community.

The City of South Fulton's Housing Assessment initiative is envisioned as an opportunity to offer South Fulton residents an in-depth understanding of its current housing needs and concrete ways to improve those needs. "Meeting our residents' complex housing needs, from seniors to students and from single family homes to rental needs, was top of mind as we launched our housing assessment", said Managing Director of Community Development and Regulatory Affairs for the City of South Fulton, Reggie McClendon. "We wanted a comprehensive look at our housing stock in order to deliver impactful solutions to the community."

The City of South Fulton Housing Assessment will offer a comprehensive analysis of demographic and economic trends, housing supply and demand, and future housing needs. It involves stakeholders, addressing housing issues, setting goals, and recommendation on policies and programs, and will play a key role in updating the city's Comprehensive Plan.

ARC coordinated the project by collaboratively developing the scope of work with the City of South Fulton, helping identify members for the Project Stakeholder Committee, and leading public engagement efforts. Seed funding in the amount of $7,500 was contributed to ARC for their technical assistance and for the creation of the Housing Assessment. Additionally, the city supported ARC in developing the Scope of Work, reviewing adopted plans, and reports.

The Housing Assessment serves as a strategic framework to ensure that housing development within the city is both deliberate and responsive to the evolving needs of the community, while simultaneously promoting social equity in housing access. By prioritizing the provision of housing options across all stages of life and income brackets, the city is poised to foster enhanced community resilience and sustainable growth. This comprehensive approach to addressing the housing needs of the City of South Fulton is the product of a collaborative partnership between the ARC, the City of South Fulton, and Atlanta Habitat for Humanity, made possible through the support of CDAP.