Research, Policy & Information is the ANDP department that executes the Mixed Income Communities Initiative (MICI).

History & Purpose of MICI

With more than a decade of experience in community development and affordable housing, ANDP recognized that a variety of regional issues including sprawl, transportation, air and water quality and housing were all too often being discussed independently of each other. In 2000, ANDP began to convene metro Atlanta's experts in fields of business, nonprofit services, government and academia to discuss the region's rising inability to generate housing that is affordable to people at a variety of income levels.  This gathering of leaders has evolved to what is known today as the Mixed Income Communities Initiative. MICI has grown to include nearly 60 organizations representing a broad cross section of society.

Influenced by a myriad of complex and interconnected issues of urban sprawl, traffic congestion, transportation, air and water quality issues, MICI initiated a study to determine exactly who was affected, and how severe the problems continue to be.  From 2000 to 2004, MICI commissioned a variety of studies to examine: demographic shifts and the effects of tax and other policies on where and how the region's citizens live; the relationship between job centers, salaries in those job centers and housing affordable to people in those job centers; and possible solutions to address these concerns.

In July 2004, MICI released the findings of its four-year study in the report Making the Case for Mixed Income and Mixed Use Communities. The report documents what many have suspected for many years - the region's housing is quickly becoming unattainable to people at low AND moderate income levels. Key findings of the report include:

-Approximately 63 percent of jobs in metro Atlanta pay under $40,000 a year and fully one-third of households earn a total of $40,000 or less. Despite the number of families living at these income levels, very little housing is being built for them.

-On average, working families in metro Atlanta spend nearly two-thirds of their income on housing and transportation combined, well above the national average of 50 percent.

-Many of Atlanta's major job centers are rich in jobs, but have a significant imbalance in the number of housing units available for people working in those job centers - especially the retail and service sectors.  (Back to Top)

Current Priorities

Since is publication in 2004, the MICI committee of volunteers, the staff of the Research, Policy and Information department and the leadership of ANDP have all worked diligently to advocate for the recommendations outlined in Making the Case for Mixed Income and Mixed Use Communities.  The committee outlines its current overarching priorities as:

-Fully implementing The Regional Housing Resource Center.  The primary purpose of the newly created Regional Housing Resource Center is to serve as a single source of information on affordable housing and mixed income communities for policy makers, housing planners, industry professionals and the general public. The Center also aims to educate all parties involved and the general public on the transportation cost of housing and its relationship to broader issues in the region.

-Reducing barriers and creating incentives for mixed income housing.  MICI is working to increase understanding of inclusionary housing policies at the local and state level as a means of reducing sprawl and increasing the availability of affordable housing.  Recognizing that the need for additional financial support of affordable housing, MICI is advocating for a regional housing trust fund(s).

-Create and promote demonstration projects that model successful mixed income communities and affordable housing strategies.  Given the rapidly rising cost of housing and the decreasing ability of low-to-moderate income families to afford a home purchase, many in our communities are rethinking their perceptions of affordable housing. MICI aims to continue to promote such change in thought. In doing so, MICI also feels it most appropriate to share potential solutions to the affordable housing crisis in the region. Existing and future mixed income developments should promoted as demonstration of how the mixed income concept can alleviate the burgeoning need for affordable housing - located in appropriate locations throughout the region. 


MICI News

-Susan E. Adams, a twelve-year veteran of the affordable housing industry, has been selected to fill the position vacated by M. von Nkosi in February. More

-December 2006/January 2007 - Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasters Cable Network (AIB) will air a Faith And The City forum entitled "Affordable Housing: A Necessity" in the coming weeks. Nathaniel Smith, ANDP Public Policy Manager, was one of several to participate in the panel discussion. For more details or air dates/times, visit the Faith And The City web site.

-November 2006 - MICI, Atlanta & Georgia Apartment Associations, Atlanta Regional Commission, Atlanta Board of Realtors, Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association and Urban Land Institute recently met with a representative sample of Atlanta's development community to discuss the current shortage of 400,000+ units of affordable housing in 36 local jurisdictions. The meeting, part of MICI's Housing Implementation Series (2006-2007), was intended to share information, create dialogue, and discuss opportunities with the development community.

-November 2006 - Nathaniel Smith, ANDP Public Policy Manager named to Atlanta Business Chronicle's list of  "Up & Comers."

-October 2006 - Nathaniel Smith, ANDP Public Policy Manager named to Georgia Trend's "40 Under 40."

-October 2006 - M. von Nkosi, Director of ANDP's Mixed Income Communities Initiative was featured in an article entitled "No Jobs Near" in the October 2006 issue of Atlanta Tribune magazine.



-July 2006 - In partnership with Georgia Tech, MICI sponsored another roundtable meeting in its continuing  "Think Regionally, Act Locally" series.  This roundtable discussion was held with members of the economic development industry. The focus of the roundtable was to discuss the economic development impact of housing choice in the region.

-June 2006 - MICI's work was featured in Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta's quarterly newsletter "Partnerships."  Get the full article here.

-June, 2006 - ANDP signed a memorandum of understanding with Georgia Department of Community Affairs and Atlanta Regional Commission to create The Regional Housing Resource Center.  Get the press release here.

-May, 2006 - ANDP and the work of MICI was featured in the May 2006 newsletter of Faith And The City. Get the full newsletter here.   (Back to Top)


Program Supporters

MICI is pleased to recognize the significant contributions of The Ford Foundation for their long support of the this program We are also pleased to recognize those who have supported the challenge grant provided by The Ford Foundation:  Bank of America Foundation, Enterprise Community Partners, Fannie Mae Foundation, Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, Georgia Power Foundation and Health Policy Institute of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. (Back to Top)


Downloads

Making the Case for Mixed Income & Mixed Use Communities

Executive Summary (2.3MB)
Full Report (5.9MB)  (Back to Top)


Committee Members (PDF)