Stock photo eviction notice

Atlanta's housing problems run deeper than just evictions of delinquent renters, reports say — people are effectively trapped in homes that are dangerous to their health.

Credit: Stock image/Georgia Recorder

The panel: 

Alan Judd, @AlanJudd3000, Investigative reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 

Kevin Riley, @ajceditor, editor-in-chief, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Willoughby Mariano, @wmariano. Investigative reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 

 

The breakdown: 

1. How did these apartment complexes become so dangerous?

  • A majority of the apartment complexes featured were owned by real estate moguls, who did not live in Atlanta. 

LISTEN: Willoughby Mariano explains how dangerous conditions are in some of these housing complexes.

2. The first housing project in the United States was in Atlanta, Ga. 

  • In the 1930s, Techwoods Homes was constructed. 

    • At the time, it was an "all-white" complex. 
  • By the 1990s, the Summer Olympics were coming to Atlanta. And thus began the revitalization of poor neighborhoods such as Techwood Homes.
    • Sixty years after its creation, Techwood Homes would be demolished and replaced by mixed-income housing.
  • Fast forward to last year, and 97% of the residents surveyed in this investigation were people of color.

LISTEN: Alan Judd speaks on Atlanta's history with public housing.

 

3. Most Georgians support some standards for rental housing. 

  • In a recent poll from the AJC, 90% of respondents said there should be a set of laws establishing minimum living requirements for rental properties so that they are safe, sanitary, and fit for habitation.

LISTEN: The panel breaks down the importance of the legislation needed to fix this housing crisis.

Friday on Political Rewind: Meg Kinnard from the Associated Press joins us.

Tags: Georgia  Politics  Georgia Politics  Political Rewind  Bill Nigut  Atlanta  Macon  Savannah  affordable housing