Celebrating 10 Years of Impact
In 2016, AVLF made a simple but powerful commitment: if families couldn’t come to us, we would go to them. That commitment became SWON, Standing With Our Neighbors®, a program built not inside a courthouse or a downtown office, but inside the schools and neighborhoods where our clients actually live.
Ten years later, SWON has delivered more than 1,400 housing benefits to families across Atlanta. Evictions prevented. Repairs secured. Homes kept. Children who got to stay in the same classroom, with the same friends, in the same neighborhood they call home.
This is what it looks like when legal advocacy meets people where they are.
Want to learn more about how you can support our mission?
Click here about how you can make an impact with us.
Why Was SWON Created?
The program was created to address a clear gap: many renters lack the legal resources or transportation to access help downtown. SWON specifically targets neighborhoods with high renter density, elevated rates of pediatric asthma, and significant student turnover, places where traditional legal services were simply out of reach.
Its core focus is housing stability, providing on-the-ground support to prevent eviction, fight poor housing conditions, and keep families rooted in their communities. The need was urgent. In 2015, one in five renters in Fulton County faced eviction, a crisis that disrupts not just families but entire school communities.
A Decade of Showing Up
Real families. Real homes. Real stability. Behind every one is a SWON attorney or advocate who showed up.
OUR IMPACT
When the wall in Mr. Bray’s shower collapsed and exposed years of hidden black mold, his landlord wouldn’t act and he didn’t know where to turn.
Because AVLF was already present in his community and showing up as neighbors long before he ever needed a lawyer, he knew exactly who to call.
From the courthouse to the community, AVLF walked alongside Melvin and his family, providing legal guidance and support that levels an uneven playing field. Thanks to AVLF volunteers and staff, Melvin found a path forward that protected his family and gave them stability.
Support Our Mission
Ten years ago, SWON started with one school, one partnership, and one belief: that every Atlanta family deserves a legal advocate in their corner, right in the places they call home.
That belief is still what drives us. See how you can help carry it forward.
