Decatur announced earlier this month creation of an Affordable Housing Task Force, a citizen-driven board, with the hope that all members are in place by April 15.
The Task Force emerged out of an Affordable Housing Summit the city held last November, an all-day event drawing roughly 150 people and moderated by Atlanta Community Food Bank Founder and longtime Decatur resident Bill Bolling.
“For over 30 years I’ve worked in hunger, housing and community building,” Bolling told the AJC recently. “By far housing is the toughest thing we’ve got.
“You have a bunch of different concepts out there,” he added. “There’s tiny houses, village-type housing, housing for those just starting out, houses for the disabled and elderly. But the big question, is there a political will? And I think that’s what Decatur is building with this task force.”
Those interested in serving the task force must fill out a Statement of Interest Form by March 15, which can be found at decaturga.com/resident-boards-commissions. The form can be returned via email to City Manager Andrea Arnold, andrea.arnold@decaturga.com or by mail to Andrea Arnold, City of Decatur, PO Box 220, Decatur, GA 30031.
“It’s easy to let [affordable housing] slip away if you let the market take over,” Bolling said. “But if you’re having regular meetings, regular conversation, then that’s very good. At the end of day, it’s up to us to create the community we want.”
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