housing
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Athens-Clarke County
Nonprofit Hope 139 Provides Homes, Support for Mothers
Hope 139, a nonprofit that provides residences and resources for mothers who are at risk or pregnant, plans to open its first three cottages in north Athens this summer. Shelley Tanner, a University of Georgia graduate who holds a degree in nursing from Emory University and has volunteered with Mercy…
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Q&As
Q&A: BOE Member LaKeisha Gantt Sees Mayoral Run as ‘Next Step’
LaKeisha Gantt, Clarke County Board of Education former president and current member, is campaigning in the 2026 Athens-Clarke County mayoral election. Q: As someone who has lived in Athens your whole life, what inspired you to run for mayor? A: It wasn’t really one single moment or turning point. It’s…
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Q&As
Q&A: ‘Not Enough Money’ to Meet Athens-Clarke County Affordable Housing Need
Melinda Lord, director of housing and community development in Athens-Clarke County, discusses how the local government plans to address the current housing crisis. Q: Can you provide an overview of the current housing crisis in Athens-Clarke County, and how does it compare to trends at the state and national level?…
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Athens-Clarke County
New Hope for Athens Homeowner: Local Groups Address Housing Affordability
As you walk past the East Athens street of New Hope Drive, near Hawthorne Avenue, the sounds of construction work can be heard from down the street. The constant buzzing of saws, the rhythmic beating of hammers on wood and the constant loud chatter of people building someone’s future. The…
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Doing Journalism
The Lead: Sean Keenan on Why Housing Reporting is Essential
Sean Keenan’s work can be found in The New York Times, Atlanta Magazine, The Daily Beast and Vice — just to name a few places. Sean is a freelance reporter and he also covers housing for the Atlanta Civic Circle. He joins this episode to talk about why housing reporting is…
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Athens-Clarke County
How to Buy a Home in a Competitive Market
Low supply and high demand have created a national boom in the housing market and as a result, homes have become harder for potential buyers to afford. From February 2021 to this past February, home prices in Georgia increased by 22% while the number of homes available for sale in…
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Athens-Clarke County
Rise of Build-to-Rent Communities Alter Local Real Estate Market
Buying a home is becoming more expensive, even in small towns in Northeast Georgia. Housing prices in the area experienced three-year highs toward the end of last year, as low mortgage rates prompted the demand for single-family homes to outweigh the available supply. This creates a phenomenon called a “seller’s…
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Athens-Clarke County
As Rent and Housing Costs Rise in Athens, Land Trust Opens Doors
At 145 Cannon Drive in Athens, a sky blue house sits empty, awaiting a new family. In Athens, the average home value is $249,947, but this three-bedroom, two-bath house is priced at $96,000. “You hear about the housing crisis, and it’s not a crisis for everyone, so maybe there’s…
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Athens-Clarke County
Athens Alliance Prepares to Open ACC-Funded Houseless Encampment
In August 2021, the Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission approved the opening of a government-sanctioned houseless encampment behind the former North Athens School on Barber Street. Since then, the county government has been working with the local non-profit that will serve as encampment’s operator, Athens Alliance Coalition (AAC), to create…
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Athens-Clarke County
A Win For Affordable Housing: Inclusionary Development Charge One Step Closer to Reality
The push for more affordable housing in Athens has reached a significant moment, as the Athens-Clarke County Planning Commission agreed to submit their response to Mayor Girtz’s Inclusionary Development Charge during their meeting on Oct. 8. The Inclusionary Development Charge, which was originally created in Fall of 2019 and presented…