In a powerful affirmation of her transformative leadership, Terri M. Lee, President and CEO of Atlanta Housing, has been named one of the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Women of Influence for 2025. This notable recognition honors Lee’s bold vision and thorough pursuit of affordable housing solutions that are reshaping the city’s landscape and expanding resources for thousands of low-income Atlantans.

“Congratulations to Terri on receiving this tremendous accolade,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. “Terri continues to be a strong leader and partner, turning vision into measurable progress through collaboration, innovation and action. In Atlanta, we say this work is a group project, and Terri exemplifies how public, private and community partners can move faster together. On behalf of a grateful city, we thank Terri for lifting up our residents and building a more inclusive Atlanta.”

“Our communities are much stronger through Terri’s leadership,” said Urban League of Greater Atlanta President and CEO Nancy Flake Johnson. “This honor is not only well-deserved but also a symbol of the dynamic leadership she brings to our city and region at a time when access to affordable housing is paramount to the security and quality of life of our citizens. The League is grateful for the lasting impact Terri continues to make for those she serves.” 

Since assuming leadership in 2024 of one of the nation’s largest housing authorities, Lee has led the creation or preservation of 4,411 affordable housing units, helping reach 7,801 total units or 78 percent of the organization’s goal of 10,000 by 2027. Her work directly supports Mayor Dickens’ citywide commitment to create or preserve 20,000 affordable units by 2030, a mission Lee champions with strategic precision and deep community engagement. 

Under her stewardship, Atlanta Housing closed on 14 properties in 2024 and 2025, including the significant stadium hotel at 450 Hank Aaron Drive near the former Turner Field. Among key developments advancing under her leadership are:

• Bowen Homes – this historic westside community is undergoing a transformative redevelopment into a vibrant, mixed-income neighborhood.

• Sylvan Hills – a multi-phase project in southwest Atlanta that includes 100-percent affordable units.

• The Proctor – a significant investment in the Bankhead corridor, bringing deeply affordable housing and community-serving retail.

• Englewood – revitalizes a former public housing site into a vibrant, mixed-income community located in southeast Atlanta and adjacent to the Atlanta Beltline Southside Trail.

• Herndon Square – a multi-phase, mixed-use development revitalizing the former Herndon Homes site.

“I am tremendously humbled by this honor. Every unit we deliver is a step toward a more resilient, equitable Atlanta,” said Lee. “We have a generational opportunity to use housing as a foundation to lift 27,000 families to economic stability, and this recognition is a true testament of the transformative work that has been done by my dynamic Atlanta Housing team, and a reminder of the hard work still left to be done.”

Lee oversees a $453 million budget, with 84 percent strategically allocated to housing development and assistance for nearly 27,000 Atlanta households. Her innovative approach to public-private partnerships has attracted billions in private and philanthropic capital, positioning Atlanta Housing as a national model for mission-driven development.

In April 2025, Lee launched Atlanta Housing’s “Resident Renaissance,” a mission-expanding, people-first approach that redefines the agency’s role beyond housing delivery to holistic community empowerment for the organization’s 43,000 assisted individuals. This strategic framework is designed to rethink affordable housing as a platform for economic mobility and self-sufficiency.

For families, this concept could mean leveraging the stability of affordable housing as a launchpad to homeownership, supported by financial coaching and community resources. For seniors, it supports the ability to age in place with dignity through wraparound services that safeguard independence and enhance quality of life. For children, it means supporting their academic achievement and development that prepares them for long-term success.

The Women of Influence Awards recognized Lee and all honorees during a ceremony Thursday, October 9, 2025.