Atlanta Housing Announces New $60,000 Down Payment Assistance Program and Partnership with Pretium to Expand Homeownership Opportunities
Friday, May 15th, 2026
In a major step toward expanding homeownership and advancing economic mobility, Atlanta Housing today announced at the 2026 State of Atlanta Housing a new initiative providing up to $60,000 in down payment assistance for eligible participants in its Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP), more than doubling the previous maximum of $25,000.
The expanded investment was announced alongside a new partnership between Atlanta Housing (AH) and Pretium, designed to create a complete and more achievable pathway to homeownership for HCVP families. Together, these efforts combine significant financial assistance, access to quality homes and personalized homebuyer support to help families successfully transition from subsidized housing to homeownership within the City of Atlanta. Through the partnership, eligible families can pursue the purchase of single-family homes sold by Pretium while also receiving tailored education and financial guidance to navigate the process with confidence.
“Atlanta Housing remains focused on our vision to use housing as a foundation to lift families to economic freedom,” said Terri M. Lee, President and CEO of Atlanta Housing. “This new partnership reflects the kind of public-private collaboration we believe is essential to close the gap between housing stability and economic opportunity. We are grateful for Pretium’s willingness to partner with Atlanta Housing to help remove barriers to homeownership for our families.”
“Our new $60,000 down payment assistance program is about turning readiness into reality. These families are stable, working, and ready for the next step. Today, we are making our most significant investment in down payment assistance yet. As we help one family move forward, we also free up space for another,” Lee added.
"Pretium has long served Housing Choice Voucher families in Atlanta, and we are proud to help create a pathway for those same residents to become homeowners," said Tatiana Gutierrez, Head of Corporate Impact at Pretium. "This partnership demonstrates how public-private partnerships expand access to homeownership while bringing capital to preserve safe, quality affordable housing stock for local rental markets. We look forward to working with Atlanta Housing to continue supporting families on their paths to homeownership."
At the center of the new partnership initiative is a coordinated approach that pairs financial support with housing access and long-term stability investments. Pretium will offer single-family homes within the city priced at or below $375,000 for participating families and provide a seller subsidy of up to $10,000 per transaction based on lease tenure. The company will also fund and complete, with its affiliate Progress Residential, up to $15,000 in property renovations for each home, as needed, and offer one year of post-purchase repair, maintenance and homeowner-stability support to help ensure long-term success.
Beyond the transaction itself, the partnership also introduces workforce development opportunities tied to Atlanta’s housing ecosystem. These pathways will support careers in property management, maintenance, construction and administrative services, helping families build not only equity through homeownership but also long-term income stability.
The pilot builds on Atlanta Housing’s existing homeownership program, which has provided up to $25,000 in down payment assistance and other supports to help families pursue ownership. When a participating HCVP family transitions to homeownership through the pilot, Pretium will coordinate with Atlanta Housing to make the vacated home, or an alternative home, available for another eligible voucher holder creating a cycle of opportunity that expands access across the system.
While homeownership remains one of the clearest pathways to long-term stability and economic independence, many Atlanta families continue to face barriers including limited affordable inventory, high upfront costs and the complexity of preparing for and sustaining a mortgage. This initiative is designed to directly address those challenges.
To further strengthen outcomes, an Atlanta-based mortgage partner will deliver HUD-approved homebuyer education and individualized mortgage-readiness assessments to prepare families for sustainable homeownership. The lender will also assist buyers in identifying supplemental down-payment or closing-cost resources to maximize purchasing power and long-term success.
This new partnership is another innovation in Atlanta Housing’s broader Resident Renaissance initiative, a resident-centered strategy to help families move from housing stability to economic mobility and long-term independence. Resident Renaissance is powered by Atlanta Housing’s continued work with the private sector to build a more complete ecosystem of support for residents. By aligning housing, workforce development, transportation and other life-building resources, Atlanta Housing is creating stronger pathways for families to thrive.
