City of Refuge and GROWTH Homes are pleased to announce the completion of five newly constructed, single-family homes in Atlanta's historic Westside neighborhood, a significant step in addressing the need for affordable homeownership options in one of the city's fastest-growing areas.

Located directly adjacent to City of Refuge's campus on Joseph E. Boone Blvd., these five distinct and separate homes represent a collaborative effort to provide pathways to homeownership for low-to-moderate-income families and individuals in the community. The project, which broke ground on May 10, 2023, is the result of a partnership between City of Refuge and GROWTH Homes, aiming to bolster the availability of affordable housing options for legacy residents.

“While Atlanta’s Westside continues to breed growth and innovation, we want to make sure those who have long invested in this community have an opportunity to deepen their roots through homeownership. GROWTH Homes and City of Refuge are united in the pursuit of expanding affordable housing options for individuals and families who need them most,” said Bruce Deel, City of Refuge founder and CEO. “Through the delivery of these five homes, we are building a bridge to independence, stability and equity for our city’s most vulnerable. Some of these future homeowners will be residents currently living on City of Refuge’s campus, so to see them take that step is a true display of our mission at work.” 

The development of these homes marks the third affordable housing project undertaken by City of Refuge, following the successful completion of "The 345," a 31-unit community for men on the Westside, in March 2023, and "The 1300," the organization's inaugural affordable rental community, in summer 2020.

Meanwhile, GROWTH Homes has focused on the development of affordable homes in or for low- to moderate-income communities and communities of color. The company empowers homebuyers to build stable lives and vibrant neighborhoods, lifting communities up through mixed-income housing and greater diversity.

"We are honored to contribute to City of Refuge's impactful mission through the construction of these five homes, knowing they will put affordable homeownership within reach of historically underserved homebuyers," said Ed Gorman, GROWTH Homes Managing Director. "Collaboration with our banking partners, often through Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) investments, empowers us to work with organizations like City of Refuge, addressing the needs of Atlanta's most vulnerable communities. This project is part of our broader pledge to build 1,000 homes in concert with the City of Atlanta, and we take pride in the fact that this joint effort with City of Refuge is an important part of that commitment."