Committee backs $150,000 homebuyer-prep plan for city workers

A plan to put up to $150,000 toward helping Atlanta city employees prepare to buy homes won unanimous backing from the City Council’s Finance/Executive Committee on Nov. 10. Members recommended a substitute version; the vote was not final City Council approval.⁠[1][2]

Councilmember Jason H. Winston’s Resolution 26-R-4350 would direct the donation to Develop & Empower USA, Inc. The attached donation text describes the nonprofit as providing homeownership preparation and financial education to first-time buyers, with this funding supporting those services for city employees pursuing homeownership.⁠[1][2][3]

The money would come from the Affordable Housing Trust and support PEACH Ready, an employee homeownership-preparation initiative. It is part of a broader housing effort the city’s Housing Policy Team is developing called PEACH—Public Employees Accessing City-wide Housing.⁠[2]

Even approval of the resolution would not, by itself, make the donation agreement binding. The text requires approval as to form by the city attorney or a designee, execution by the mayor or a designee, and delivery to the nonprofit before the city incurs an obligation under the agreement.⁠[2]

The draft minutes list Nov. 16 at 1 p.m. as the next legislative step, but do not explain what changed in the substitute. The attached donation text also does not specify how employees would enroll, when services would begin or how many people would be served.⁠[1][2]