City of Atlanta teaming up with local churches to build affordable housing

ATLANTA — The good people at The Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church in Southeast Atlanta realized there was a problem years ago.

“When gentrification was really taking hold, I had senior members that were not able to pay their taxes. I thought — with us having 52 acres of land — why not provide housing,” Reverend William Flippin said.

The church made it happen, and built Grove Gardens — affordable apartments for seniors — right next door. Now, the city is teaming up with 15 local churches to build 1-thousand affordable homes.

The churches will provide the land, and the Wells Fargo Foundation will provide $1.3 million in grant money.

“This can get you going. 15 faith-based organizations will be able to start that journey to do what Flippin and others have done. But they don’t have the 100-thousand dollars to start that process. This will help them,” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said.

Pastor Flipping says this initiative will work. His church wrote the book on how to do it.

“We’re grateful. The apartments are there. They’re beautiful. The only thing that concerns me is there’s a six-year waiting list. We need housing,” Reverend Flippin said.

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