How can the Atlanta region work together to address our growing housing affordability crisis?

That’s the focus of Housing Forward 2035, a regional housing strategy that the Atlanta Regional Commission previewed at the Sept. 2 meeting of the Atlanta Regional Housing Forum.

Housing Forward 2035 establishes a shared vision, defines actionable steps, and strengthens regional capacity to address the region’s housing challenges. Importantly, it also sets regional and county level goals for housing production as well as preservation of existing affordable units.

“It’s already a challenge for people at the lower end of the income scale to find sustainable, stable, and affordable places to live in our region,” Anna Roach, ARC’s Executive Director & CEO, told housing forum attendees. “Imagine how much harder it could be in five years or ten years if we do nothing to change the course of where we’re heading.”

The strategic plan was developed by ARC and advisory firm HR&A, with robust public engagement that included surveys, a project advisory group, focus groups, and a regional housing summit held in April 2026. ARC Board adoptions is expected by the end of 2026.

“There is no one-size-fits all approach to address our housing challenges. Each community will need to find the solutions that work best for their needs,” said Samyukth Shenbaga, ARC’s Managing Director of Community Development. “Housing Forward 2035 is designed to help them explore what’s possible and provide the data and resources they need to make progress.”

3 Strategic Goals

Housing Forward 2035 sets three strategic goals and related target outcomes to effect change:

Goal 1: Build Strategically to Grow Intentionally

The study found that if current development trends hold, much of the new housing through 2035 will be built in outer counties, such as Forsyth, Cherokee, and Henry, that are far from the region’s major job centers and transit access.

Housing Forward 2035 offers an “alternative growth scenario” that directs new housing toward areas closer to job centers and transit, expands access to economic opportunity, and steers development away from areas more vulnerable to climate change. The study found that about 70% of new jobs created by 2035 are expected to be at low- to moderate- income levels

Target: 367,000 homes built by 2035

These two maps tell the story. The first depicts growth patterns under current patterns. The second map shows what a more strategic, intentional growth might look like.

Goal 2: Close the “affordability gap”

The study found that under current development trends, the market will produce only 25% of the housing demand for households earning below $55,000, or 50% of the area median income.

To close that gap, the plan calls for a four-fold increase in production of housing affordable to households earning less than $55,000 and the preservation of 104,000 affordable units that are at risk of loss to redevelopment.

Target: Reduce the gap by 50% by 2035

Goal 3: Activate Vacant & Underutilized Properties

The study identified 106,000 properties in the 11-county region that are either vacant or undutilized, including 1,530 publicly owned parcels.

Housing Forward 2035 encourages the public and private sector to work together to bring new affordable housing units online.

Target: Create new homes on 10% of the region’s vacant or underutilized parcels by 2035.

10 Housing Actions

The strategic plan details 10 housing actions that form an implementation framework. These include:

• Creating a regional housing certification program and toolkit to help jurisdictions adopt policies, zoning, and processes that reduce barriers to housing production and preservation.
• Launching a Regional Housing Dashboard to track progress on key housing -related measures, such as housing production, preservation, and affordability by jurisdiction, creating accountability and showing where investment is needed most.
• Diversifying and expanding financing opportunities and grant readiness to produce and preserve the homes needed for a growing population.
• Deploying a shared communications strategy to equip local governments, employers, and advocates with consistent messaging and data that build support for housing solutions.

A Call to Action

The Atlanta Regional Housing Forum is led by founder Bill Bolling and guided by a volunteer Steering Committee representing Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership, ARC, Civitas Housing Group, Decide DeKalb Development Authority, Enterprise Community Partners, HouseATL, and Mercy Housing Southeast.

“ARC’s work recognizes the basic reality: The housing challenges facing the Atlanta region cross jurisdictional lines, but the decisions that shape housing production are made locally,” said Bolling at the start of the meeting.

ARC’s Roach closed her remarks with a call to action for regional collaboration.

“There’s no doubt that the stakes are high right now, and we cannot be afraid to take bold steps,” she said. “I hope you all feel the urgency that we feel at the Atlanta Regional Commission. And as you listen to today’s presentations, I encourage you to ask yourself: What can I do to help? Where does my organization fit into this broader plan?”