What Works: Atlanta’s emerging strategies for affordable housing

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Housing affordability is a growing challenge nationwide.

The U.S. faces a shortage of 1.5 to 5.5 million homes, and prices have climbed nearly 50 percent since 2019.

Decades of restrictive zoning, rising construction costs, and limited land availability have contributed to the shortage—along with other social, economic and policy factors.

Atlanta’s housing pressures

The region’s population has surged, but housing production has not kept up with demand.

Metro Atlanta lost more than 230,000 affordable units (2018–2023), and median home prices now approach $400,000.

Median-income households now spend 35% of their earnings on housing, while new buyers face costs rising from 25% of income in 2019 to 40% today—potentially putting homeownership out of reach for many.

Four strategies driving solutions

Leaders from across Atlanta’s public and private sectors are developing strategies that offer insights for cities nationwide including the following:
 

1. Reform zoning policies to expand housing options.
2. Adopt modular and factory-built methods to cut timelines and costs.
3. Acquire land proactively to preserve affordability and stability.
4. Expand financing tools—revolving funds, blended investments, and partnerships—to scale development.

In partnership with Axios, the United States Conference of Mayors, and JPMorganChase, the Zoom In series explores new ideas from business leaders and local officials as they work to revive and reimagine the future of communities across America.