Atlanta

Atlanta Hawks names executive as COO of group helping local renters impacted by eviction

ATLANTA — Families in metro Atlanta will have some new help navigating the eviction and housing crisis.

The Atlanta Hawks has announced that Amy Phuong, the team’s Vice President of Government Relations, will serve as the Chief Operating Officer for Saving Our Atlanta Region’s Residents (SOARR).

SOARR is a regionally coordinated, cross-sector response to the growing eviction crisis of renters in Atlanta.

Phuong will be responsible for helping support and bring together public and private resources and civic leaders to keep families stabilized and housed for the duration of COVID-19. The executive on loan program will run through the duration of 2021.

“I am very grateful to the Hawks’ leadership for the opportunity to work with SOARR over the next year,” said Phuong. “As a native Atlantan who has a passion to help build and improve Atlanta in diverse ways and continue collaboration with public and private sectors, I look forward to working on the long-term health of affordable housing in metro Atlanta, and I am humbled to help operationalize a systematic approach and the region’s collective vision.”

SOARR’s core planning group includes representatives of the sponsoring organizations, property owners, service providers, finance, government, philanthropy, and the community at large.

“The Atlanta Hawks continue to be a vital community asset in the metro Atlanta region and SOARR is extremely appreciative to receive this unique support of an Executive on Loan for this cross-sector initiative,” said SOARR Executive Director John Berry. “SOARR is excited to launch and collaborate with a variety of agencies in the coming months to provide rental assistance and relief.”

In her role with the Hawks, Phuong serves as a member of the management team and is responsible for directing the company’s policies and activities in the areas supporting the Hawks and its partners efforts to invest in metro Atlanta communities through capital and program investments. Additionally, she worked with Fulton County to help make State Farm Arena the first professional sports venue for early voting in the nation and the largest-ever voting precinct in Georgia.

You can learn more here.