The Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF) is excited to announce a $1,446,000 grant from The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, a landmark investment that will significantly expand AVLF’s ability to provide free legal and social services to low-income tenants and survivors of intimate partner abuse in two historic Westside neighborhoods, English Avenue and Vine City.
“The investment from The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation reflects a shared belief that no one standing up for their rights should have to do it alone,” said Michael Lucas, Executive Director of AVLF. “With this support, we will deepen our presence in the communities that need us most — meeting families in their neighborhoods, in their schools, and at the courthouse — to prevent the legal crises that lead to homelessness, family instability, and cycles of poverty.”
The $1.4 million investment will support AVLF’s core housing stability work, including its Standing with Our Neighbors program. The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation previously supported AVLF’s work, annually, in Atlanta’s Westside neighborhoods because of its expertise in providing proactive legal support to increase housing stability for residents. The Blank Foundation is excited to continue its support through this new multi-year grant.
“AVLF’s community-based approach to legal services aligns with our foundation’s commitment to support the residents of Atlanta’s Westside neighborhoods, English Avenue and Vine City” said Danny Shoy, Jr., Managing Director of Atlanta’s Westside and Youth Development at the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. “Stable housing and safe families are foundational to economic mobility, and AVLF has demonstrated that preventative legal advocacy can create lasting, systemic change.”
AVLF is the largest provider of free legal services in Atlanta, serving more than 5,000 individuals and families each year through its staff and a network of over 500 volunteer attorneys, paralegals, and law students. The organization operates from offices at the Fulton County Courthouse, within Westside neighborhood schools, and through its mobile advocacy unit — ensuring immediate, accessible support for those navigating the legal system during moments of crisis.
The grant comes at a critical time for Atlanta’s low-income residents. Housing instability remains a defining challenge across the city, with eviction filings disproportionately affecting communities of color. AVLF’s data-driven approach — which includes daily mapping of real-time eviction filing data for targeted outreach — has positioned the organization as a national model for how legal advocacy can prevent homelessness and stabilize families before crises escalate.
“Eviction prevention is homelessness prevention,” Lucas added. “Every family we help stay in their home is a child who stays in their school, a worker who keeps their job, and a community that grows stronger. The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation’s investment will help us reach more families and advance our mission to create safe and stable homes and families across Atlanta.”