Awardees recognized across five categories for outstanding contributions to housing affordability in the Atlanta region
Atlanta’s affordable housing community came together on April 22nd to celebrate six extraordinary champions whose work is making a real and lasting difference for families across the region. At its third annual Affordable Housing Awards luncheon at The Gathering Spot, HouseATL welcomed over 150 housing leaders to honor awardees across five categories — Housing Policy, Homeownership, Housing Retention, Rental Housing Preservation, and Exceptional Funding — selected through a membership-wide nominations and elections process that reflects the breadth and dedication of HouseATL’s growing coalition.
“HouseATL created these awards to shine a light on the leaders driving real progress on housing affordability, and this year’s honorees are an exceptional group,” said Alan Ferguson, Co-Chair of the HouseATL Board and Chief Housing Officer of DeKalb County.
AVLF was honored to be recognized as the 2026 Housing Retention Hero at the event. “We are deeply grateful to HouseATL for this incredible honor,” said Michael Lucas, Executive Director. “To be recognized alongside such a dedicated group of partners is truly meaningful, and we are proud to stand with others committed to ensuring that Atlantans can remain safely housed.”
The 2026 HouseATL Affordable Housing Awardees:
- Alison Johnson, 2026 Housing Policy Advocate, is a Peoplestown native who has built a powerful tenant advocacy platform at the Housing Justice League, connecting eviction defense, grassroots organizing, and national coalition-building to give renters real tools to protect their homes and communities.
- Mariel Risner Sivley, 2026 Housing Policy Advocate, has expanded critical housing programs at St. Vincent de Paul Georgia, led the HousingFirst Georgia coalition, and successfully mobilized stakeholders against harmful legislation — proving that evidence-based, coalition-driven advocacy wins.
- Atlanta Habitat for Humanity, 2026 Homeownership Champion, is reimagining affordable homeownership at scale through innovative joint venture developments like Browns Mill Village and the forthcoming Langston Park, set to serve as a showcase for the Carter Work Project 2026.
- Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, 2026 Housing Retention Hero, keeps thousands of Atlanta households stably housed each year by delivering free, high-quality legal representation — from Fulton County courtrooms to neighborhood schools — ensuring tenants have someone in their corner before a housing crisis becomes irreversible.
- Columbia Residential, 2026 Rental Housing Preservation Leader, has preserved hundreds of affordable homes for Atlanta’s most vulnerable residents through the rehabilitation of properties including Legacy at East Lake and Columbia Senior at MLK Village, combining tax credits, affordability covenants, and permanent supportive housing to keep communities intact.
- Dr. Christie Cade, 2026 Exceptional Funder, brings more than three decades of housing finance and community development experience to her role as Vice President and Southeast Market Leader at Enterprise Community Partners — and as co-chair of HouseATL’s Funders’ Collective, she has moved funders from the sidelines into the kind of coordinated, equity-centered investment that changes communities for generations.
Together, these six champions embody the innovation, collaboration, and commitment that define Atlanta’s affordable housing movement at its best.
“When we celebrate the leaders moving the needle on housing affordability, we strengthen the entire movement,” said Natallie Keiser, Executive Director of HouseATL. “Atlanta is fortunate to have advocates, innovators, and funders like these six champions, and we are proud to honor them.”
HouseATL advances equitable housing outcomes for individuals and families in the metro Atlanta region by leading cross-sector collaboration and advocating for affordable housing policies and solutions. HouseATL is a cross-sector membership coalition of civic leaders committed to building the public will for a comprehensive and coordinated housing affordability action plan for Atlanta. Founded in 2018 through the combined efforts of the Urban Land Institute of Atlanta, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Central Atlanta Progress, the Center for Civic Innovation, and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, HouseATL now brings together more than 450 members from over 250 organizations. The coalition works to address the region’s housing challenges, develop policy recommendations, and secure funding for affordable housing—envisioning a thriving and diverse region, where people at all income levels have housing choices and can live with dignity, for generations to come.