ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - Albany is one step closer to addressing the affordable housing crisis with the groundbreaking of the Carroll Street gardens townhomes.
This groundbreaking was 3 years in the making. In 2021, the city of Albany received nearly $1.8 million dollars from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s ‘HOME Investment Partnership Program’ and the American rescue plan. This was enough to build 8 apartment units.
However, in 2023, the city teamed up with the MP organization to invest a total 4.1 million dollars towards creating a mixed income community.
This expanded the project to have 32 units, with 13 of those designated for those at the greatest risk of homelessness. John Hawthorne is Director of the Department of Community and Economic Development for the city of Albany. He says this groundbreaking couldn’t have come at a better time.
“This issue has continued to grow,” said Hawthorne. “The latest point in time count that was done earlier this year, shows that there were now more homeless individuals in the city of Albany than in previous year. So it is a growing problem and it’s going to take a multi-pronged approach.”
The CEO of the MP Organization, Phillip Blow, says they first home should be available by April of 2025.
