City of Refuge Provides Affordable Housing in Atlanta

By Melissa Walcott September 23, 2021 1 Comment

Bruce Deel, founder and CEO of City of Refuge, Andy Litvak, partner and Abe Kannof, associate with Nelson Mullins, join the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to discuss the 1300 development. They discuss the importance of affordable housing in metro Atlanta with hosts Carol Morgan and Todd Schnick for the Around Atlanta segment.

Founded 24 years ago, City of Refuge has serviced the west side of Atlanta for the past 19 years. The organization provides wrap-around services for those who find themselves in difficult situations. A one-stop-shop, services include housing, medical, dental, mental health, vision, parenting classes, financial literacy, vocational training, homeownership and job placement.

With workforce training and an innovation hub, the organization provides a rich roster of classes focusing on auto technician training, culinary arts, personal fitness training, hospitality, customer service, security personnel and recently, the cybersecurity and coding academy. The goal is to equip the 500 annual participants in the vocational training programs to find employment in metro Atlanta and secure a livable wage, which is currently at $19 per hour. With nonprofit partners across the city, including high schools, vo-tech schools, churches and police departments, they are able to teach soft skills and critical life skills.

Currently, the organization receives referrals from organizations across metro Atlanta, exceeding their capacity. Recently, 300 applicants applied for the 45 spots available in the cybersecurity academy. City of Refuge refocused the process to allow for quicker organization of upcoming classes to assist in the large number of applications.

“Everybody that comes to us comes from someplace of brokenness in life,” shared Deel. “Helping them figure out not just how to get a job but how to keep that job and how to move forward in a successful manner.”

A crucial aspect of securing employment is finding safe and affordable housing. With a partner like Nelson Mullins providing pro bono legal services, City of Refuge can identify apartments and hotels and transform them into affordable and safe spaces. Affordable housing near the City of Refuge campus provides convenience for program participants to settle while having easy access to organization services.

Nelson Mullins is a full-service law firm that provides a full suite of legal services to various businesses and clients. There are 25 offices open on the eastern seaboard, but the company considers the southeastern United States home. Litvak and Kannof work within the commercial real estate practice along with 45 to 50 attorneys, focusing exclusively on commercial real estate transactions. The firm has been working with City of Refuge for the past five years.

The 1300 Project is a culmination of efforts and recognition of the acute need for affordable housing in Atlanta, becoming the first foundational housing project on Atlanta’s Westside. The project came out of years of discussion and strategic brainstorming to expand the City of Refuge campus, creating a ripple effect to demonstrate the affordable real estate potential on the Westside. Litvak shared that the multigenerational project of City of Refuge is a consistent effort Nelson Mullins hopes to carry on.

“We really view ourselves as a spoke on [the] wheel. We have particular resources and particular areas of expertise on the legal side and the real estate side,” said Litvak. “That’s where you’re really going to start to see inertia and momentum when it comes to moving things forward as it relates to affordable housing on the Westside.”

The challenging situation on Atlanta’s Westside makes developing new real estate is not an easy feat to accomplish. There is an elevation in real estate prices, and investments occurring within the neighborhood are more concerned with a return on investment versus focusing on the struggling residents.

The 1300 offers 47 units of affordable housing with 24 units featuring three bedrooms and 23 featuring two bedrooms. To keep the units affordable, occupants do not pay more than 60% of the market rate and 30% of their monthly income. City of Refuge currently leases to 15 of the organization’s graduates, maintaining a relationship with City of Refuge for a minimum of 15 months. Recently, all 15 of the current City of Refuge occupants re-upped their lease after a year living in the development, continuing the relationship with the organization. The 1300 offers access to case managers, social workers and childcare.

A recent development occurred after City of Refuge noticed residential income increasing. The organization propositioned residents with the option of saving the difference between the current rent and the increase. To help them reach the goal of homeownership, if a resident chooses to save the difference, the organization will match it dollar for dollar.

“It’s not doing something for you. It’s let’s come together and pull our resources to see how we can impact your life and the future generations coming behind you,” said Deel.

If someone seeks assistance with City of Refuge and moves 30 miles away, they lose their support system and the potential for crashing again increases. By placing affordable housing near the City of Refuge campus, that possibility lessens.

Another considerable aspect of supplying affordable housing is securing employment opportunities compatible with residents who rely on walking and MARTA for mobility. It helps to advance the economics of the community through a multifaceted approach to not only change the lives of individuals but create a block-by-block transformation that translates into a community renovation.

There will be additional joint private-public ventures inspired by the 1300 to continue to build a safe and affordable foundation and increase residential infrastructure. The saying “retail follows rooftops” comes into play as an abundance of retail and restaurants will follow as the demographic continues to move and permanently reside within the community. Other business interests will soon follow to continue to serve the residents of the community. The goal isn’t to displace current residents but to evolve in correct and deliberate ways to increase the quality of life.

“This is a catalyst and example. It doesn’t have to be a mirror image [of the 1300],” shared Litvak. “You’re going to see some really neat tentacles start to grow as a result of this.”

To receive an overview of programs and opportunities offered at City of Refuge, visit www.cityofrefugeatl.com. Volunteer and donation opportunities are available on the front page. The organization would love to see more folks from the metro Atlanta get involved on the Westside.

For more information on Nelson Mullins, visit www.nelsonmullins.com. There is a link on the website to view the firm’s partnership with City of Refuge and explore other markets such as Charleston and the Atlantic.

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Georgia Residential Mortgage Licensee, License #22564. NMLS ID #6606. Subject to borrower and property qualifications. Not all applicants will qualify. New American Funding, Nelson Mullins and City of Refuge are not associated. Click here to view the terms and conditions of products mentioned during the show. Corporate office 14511 Myford Rd., Suite 100, Tustin, CA 92780. Phone: (800) 450-2010. (September/2021)

New American Funding is a family-owned mortgage lender with a servicing portfolio of over 123,000 loans for $30.4 billion, 198 branches, and about 3,100 employees. The company offers several niche loan products and has made Inc. 5000’s list of Fastest-Growing Companies in America six times. It has a state-of-the-art career training facility and develops innovative technology, including the GoGo LO mobile application. For more information, visit www.branch.newamericanfunding.com/Atlanta.

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