Why Was SWON Created?

The program was created to address an often overlooked but critical issue in education: in too many communities, high eviction rates and deplorable conditions send schools and students’ ability to learn into a downward spiral. SWON’s first school, Thomasville Heights Elementary School, was located in a neighborhood with nation-leading poverty rates and notoriously unstable housing.  The displacement of renters from the one complex across the street where nearly every student lived was driving a shocking 44% annual student transiency rate.  Not coincidentally, the school was the lowest performing elementary school in the state. 

SWON was created to improve those transiency rates by fighting displacement, and it was incredibly successful. In doing so, it also addressed another important issue: many renters lack the 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, and it still is. In 2015, one in five renters in Fulton County faced eviction. In 2025, those numbers . . .   

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.