Protecting Homeownership for Atlantans as the City Grows

The nonprofit Atlanta Land Trust’s mission is to provide and manage permanently affordable housing to support inclusive and equitable communities near the Atlanta Beltline and other targeted areas of the city of Atlanta. By keeping housing permanently affordable, a community land trust helps reduce the displacement that can accompany gentrification resulting from public investment. ALT sells homes to low-income buyers at an affordable price while holding the land in trust. Homeowners enter into a long-term land lease with ALT that includes resale restrictions, requiring them to sell the home to another income-qualified buyer for an affordable price. The homeowner can create wealth from the investment while preserving the affordability of the home for generations of Atlantans.

As we invest heavily in metro Atlanta’s public infrastructure to accommodate this growth, we must ensure that the residents whose taxes fund these investments can stay in their communities. We must also ensure that these projects, like the Atlanta Beltline, benefit all Atlantans by providing benefits like public transportation that improve economic mobility.

As one ALT owner said, “I don’t think it’s fair to force someone out to let someone else in.” At ALT, we work to ensure Atlanta remains an inclusive city that welcomes newcomers while protecting existing residents. We envision a livable, equitable, and economically viable city where historically marginalized populations and communities of color can access, benefit, and thrive.

Amanda Rhein is executive director of the Atlanta Land Trust.