DeKalb County, Georgia, has launched its first comprehensive housing plan to address its housing crisis. On August 27, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved this new initiative to provide affordable housing for residents, as announced on the DeKalb County's official website.
Commissioner Michelle Long Spears, the plan's foremost advocate asserted, "The housing crisis is affecting families across our community, and we need a comprehensive, coordinated approach to address it." Spears emphasized the urgency and essence of the plan: "This housing plan is our roadmap to ensuring that everyone in DeKalb has access to a safe, affordable place to call home. It’s about building a future where no one, is left behind," she told DeKalb County's news outlet.
Identifying and mitigating the county's housing challenges, such as rising costs, insufficient resources, and a dwindling supply of affordable rental units is a core aspect of this comprehensive housing framework. With more than half of the county's renters currently overburdened by costs, the detailed plan endeavors to provide relief and stability to countless households.
DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond added, "Many DeKalb County residents are facing housing insecurity, and this plan will help us more effectively ensure that all residents have access to safe, healthy, and affordable housing." Natallie Keiser, of HouseATL, a local housing advocacy group. "A housing plan for DeKalb County will lay the foundation for developing needed solutions for residents’ housing affordability challenges," the statement obtained by DeKalb County.
The new housing plan includes analyzing gaps in housing, increasing the housing supply, working with various sectors, engaging the community, and exploring new policies and funding. Funded with $250,000, the plan will start after a third-party vendor is chosen by November 30. It will be part of the county’s overall Comprehensive Plan and aims to improve housing access and affordability in DeKalb County over the next five years.
