On Monday, Mayor Andre Dickens joined U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock, Atlanta City Council Member Andrea Boone and community leaders in southwest Atlanta to highlight the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, federal legislation designed to increase the nation’s housing supply while giving communities more tools to protect neighborhoods from large-scale institutional home purchases.
The legislation, which passed Congress in June and is awaiting the President’s signature, includes a provision championed by Senator Warnock that targets the growing practice of private equity firms purchasing single-family homes in bulk.
Protecting the Dream of Homeownership
Mayor Dickens said the legislation addresses a challenge Atlanta has experienced for years.
“When large institutional investors buy up neighborhood homes in bulk, it becomes so much harder for working families to achieve their dream of homeownership,” Dickens said. “It becomes harder for legacy residents to remain rooted in the communities they helped build.”
According to the Mayor, more than one in four single-family rental homes in metro Atlanta are owned by large corporations, limiting opportunities for first-time buyers and driving up housing costs in many neighborhoods.
The legislation would provide cities with additional tools to discourage those large-scale purchases while helping local homebuyers and responsible landlords compete more fairly.
Supporting Atlanta’s Neighborhood Reinvestment
Mayor Dickens said the federal effort complements Atlanta’s own work to expand housing opportunities through the City’s Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative (NRI).
The initiative focuses on creating pathways to homeownership, supporting existing homeowners, reducing displacement and ensuring longtime residents can benefit from Atlanta’s continued growth.
“The ROAD Act’s focus on keeping legacy homes out of the hands of folks who put profits over people is a critical complement to this work,” Dickens said.
He added that the legislation gives cities new tools to protect neighborhoods, expand opportunities for first-time homebuyers and strengthen long-term neighborhood stability.
Working Together on Housing Solutions
Mayor Dickens thanked Senator Warnock for building bipartisan support around an issue affecting communities across the country.
“This legislation acknowledges the challenges cities are facing and provides meaningful solutions for families who simply want the opportunity to own a home and build generational wealth,” Dickens said.
The bipartisan package received overwhelming support in both the U.S. House and Senate and is awaiting the President’s signature. If enacted, city leaders say it will help communities better protect neighborhood housing while expanding opportunities for future homeowners.
