Jeanette Henderson is Atlanta native and has been a homeowner in the City of Atlanta for 65 years. As a recipient of a forgivable Heritage Owner Occupied Rehab loan, Henderson is able to afford critical health and safety repairs on her home.
 
Invest Atlanta, with support from the City of Atlanta, the Atlanta Housing Authority, Choice Atlanta, Executive Realty Solutions, and several other organizations, implemented the program to help lower-income residents remain in their homes and avoid displacement. After a successful pilot program in the Vince City and English Avenue neighborhoods, the program was able to expand.
 
The program serves senior households aged 55 and older, military veterans, disabled head of households, and those that have been in their homes for 15 or more years. “A lot of people don’t think about the seniors,” said Henderson. “I think the program is a nice thing for senior citizens because seniors don’t really have a lot of money to get these things done.”
 
Henderson bought her home because she was interested in being a homeowner instead of renting an apartment in Atlanta. With her loan, she is able to remove mold, install new planks, treat and repair termite damage, repair her hot water tank, upgrade pipes, and replace her stairs.
 
“Some seniors can afford to get some things done but they can’t afford to get everything done,” said Henderson. “This program was a great idea!”
 
The Heritage Owner Occupied Rehab programs are part of Mayor Bottoms’ larger goal of investing $1 billion from public and private sources to support affordable housing in Atlanta, the largest such investment in our city’s history.