Aya Tower residents in East Point, Georgia, as well as city officials, community members and business partners attended a grand opening event to celebrate a revitalized affordable housing development, an effort on which national affordable and supportive housing developer the Vecino Group, UnitedHealth Group, the National Affordable Housing Trust (NAHT), and the East Point Housing Authority (EPHA) all partnered. In addition to making safe and affordable housing available, several health and social services will be offered in adjacent buildings for Aya Tower residents and the full community. 

Aya Tower, which had been vacant since 2004, experienced a $24 million redevelopment by national affordable and supportive housing developer the Vecino Group, and now includes 88 affordable one- and two-bedroom apartments for families earning between $30,000 and $40,000 annually. The property is managed by Wingate Properties Management and opened to residents earlier this year.  

“This development is poised to be transformative for East Point,” said Wesley Brown, director of development, southeast for the Vecino Group. “Together with our partners, we turned blight into beauty. Even early on, local residents repeatedly shared how excited they were to have this building coming back to life. And community has been key from the beginning — not only in serving the housing need but also in communicating civic pride and the power of place.” 

The Atlanta area remains one of America’s largest and fastest-growing markets. Increased housing costs in what was previously considered an affordable metro area have put pressure on low- and middle-income families. Atlanta has experienced some of the fastest-rising rents in the country in recent years.

“We look forward to this investment sparking additional local economic vitality and providing relief for those being squeezed by the Atlanta housing crisis,” said Michael Spann, executive director for EPHA. “And residents will benefit all the more from the health and social services that have been made available onsite.” 

An $18 million investment in the Aya Tower redevelopment was made by UnitedHealth Group through Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), with the remaining balance provided by other investors. The company invested in housing tax credits for more than a decade. 

In addition to the investment for the Aya Tower housing, UnitedHealth Group also worked to identify and recruit health services through Grady Health System, and workforce readiness training through Goodwill of North Georgia. These health and workforce development services will be made available and managed by the East Point Housing Authority in community areas within the Aya Tower building, and at its newly purchased property nearby once it has been redeveloped. 

“Safe and affordable housing is key to health and wellness,” said Catherine Anderson, senior vice president of health equity strategy, UnitedHealth Group. “UnitedHealth Group is honored to support East Point residents by increasing the availability of housing, as well as supportive services that help ensure better health and wellness among residents.” 

As part of its redevelopment, the Aya Tower building’s exterior will feature art to honor former East Point Mayor Patsy Jo Hilliard. The Vecino Group and the EPHA commissioned a mural to honor Hilliard as someone whose service had a significant impact toward the city’s present successes. 

Through her public service from 1993 through 2006, Mayor Hilliard was instrumental in uniting the community to enable enduring, positive impact by revitalizing the public library, delivering the city’s first community health clinic, and fostering relationships with civic and business leaders. Its longest-tenured mayor to date, in 1993 she made history as the first female and first African American to hold the office in the history of East Point – as well in the state.

The artwork, created by Atlanta-based artist Erica Chisolm, combines Adinkra symbols with a vibrant portrait of Mayor Hilliard, as well as her favorite saying “be true to thyself.” The team also included the Atlanta-based art collective Living Walls, which specializes in large-scale, culturally inspired public art. The seven-story piece – all painted by hand – was completed late Spring 2023. 

“NAHT is honored to originate and manage UnitedHealth Group’s investment in Aya Tower,” said Lori Little, president & CEO of the National Affordable Housing Trust. “For over three decades, NAHT has helped developers create and preserve affordable homes by connecting them with impact capital investment funds. Our partnership with UnitedHealth Group has provided much-needed capital for quality homes and services, increasing positive health outcomes for families and seniors. Vecino and East Point Housing Authority are to be congratulated for restoring this much needed housing. We are honored to be a part of this effort.”

UnitedHealth Group’s coordinated investment strategy in housing, health and social services demonstrates a deep commitment to advancing health equity. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, households that struggle to pay the rent are at a heightened risk for negative health outcomes.