About Us
Creating Effective Solutions
The Mission of Housing Plus, Inc. is to deliver equitable housing solutions, economic wellness programs, and financial assistance for low income households.
Founded in June 2018, Housing Plus Inc. embarked on a mission to tackle Atlanta's housing crisis with the funding assistance of United Way of Greater Atlanta, beginning with the creation of co-housing units for homeless men. Recognizing the growing community needs, HPI has evolved through strategic partnerships with local community leaders and organizations. Fueled by generous financial and in-kind donations, Housing Plus Inc. broadened its scope to offer a suite of services, including immediate Street to Home placements, Trauma-Informed Life Coaching, Case Management, and Emergency Rental Assistance. Today, Housing Plus Inc. remains dedicated to its vision, relentlessly pursuing programs that foster Housing Stability, Financial Wellness, and Generational Wealth.
Housing Plus Inc. supports equity in housing and economic wellness for low to moderate income households in the Greater Atlanta Region. By focusing on closing generational wealth gaps, the organization upholds core values of diversity, equal access, integrity, intention, social impact, freedom, collaboration, and creativity. These values guide our efforts in building strong, inclusive communities and empowering individuals to make informed choices about their living situations.
Atlanta's Current Housing Affordability Reality
ATLANTA HAS HAD A REAL ESTATE BOOM, BUT NOT ENOUGH UNITS ARE AFFORDABLE AND HOUSING COSTS HAVE INCREASED.
Atlanta’s population has grown to more than 500,000 — up from roughly 420,000 in 2010, according to its Department of City Planning.
The city has also added more than 17,500 housing units in recent years. The problem?
- Too few of these new units are affordable yet housing costs, rent payments and property taxes have all increased.
- About 4 in 10 households in Atlanta earn less than $45,000 per year. Many of these households earn well below this total (in 2018, 26% of city households earned less than $25,000 a year).
- These residents need housing units that cost less than $1,000 per month — or even smaller — to avoid significant cost burdens. Yet, just 3,301 new units from 2010–2018 were priced under $1,000 a month, according to the city. Even fewer in 2023.
- Left with no other options, many residents spend a significant portion of their earnings on housing. In 2018, nearly 50% of all renters — about 16 percentage points more than in 2010 — were spending upwards of 30% of their income on rent.
We envision closing generational wealth gaps through housing equity advocacy and policy within the Greater Atlanta Region.
To support policies and tailored programs that address historical and current obstacles of equitable housing outcomes, please donate to Housing Plus Inc through volunteer opportunities or monetary support. Thank you!
The Need
State of Black Homeownership in the United States
The homeownership rate for African Americans remains the lowest among all racial groups in the United States, and this gap is widening.
Drivers of the racial wealth gap include family financial support, unemployment, college-educated status, and household income, but the primary driver is homeownership.
The U.S. Census Bureau reported that, as of December 31, 2020, the rate of African-American homeownership is 44.1 percent, whereas the rate of White homeownership is 74.5 percent. At all income ranges, even at incomes above $100,000, homeownership rates are lower for African-American households than for White households. For African Americans, then, a high income is less likely to result in high wealth.
Housing Plus Inc supports recommended actions that address obstacles at every consumers level:
- Short-term opportunities focus on mortgage-ready borrowers that companies can reach by overcoming knowledge and trust gaps.
- Mid-term opportunities focus on borrowers who have not yet established credit histories and help them transition to homeownership within 1 to 2 years.
- Long-term opportunities serve residents who need to rehabilitate their credit rating and build their savings accounts.
For more information, click the link below.