The City of Atlanta has involvement with several kinds of housing options. Some examples are Inclusionary Zoning, Permanent Supportive Housing, and Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC). The entirety of the housing options in the City of Atlanta are known as “Affordable Housing”, or “Workforce Housing”. The properties that participate in the Affordable Housing/Workforce Housing Program offer rental units at rates that are lower than “market rate”, or what they would usually offer to the general public.

A chart of the maximum allowable rental rates are shown below. Many properties offer rents below what is shown on the chart.

Affordable/Workforce Housing is offered at a variety of levels, all based on household income. Household income is compared to the Area Median Income (AMI). If a household earns at, or below, 80% of AMI, then they will qualify for some form of Affordable/Workforce Housing. Many properties are specifically for households earning at or below 60% AMI, 50% AMI, and 30% AMI.

Income includes more than wages from employment. Affordable/Workforce Housing properties may calculate household annual income using multiple sources of revenue and support.

Each Affordable/Workforce Housing property will verify sources of income differently. Some use third-party verification systems (based on Social Security number), while others may request documentation such as paycheck stubs, bank statements, and/or tax returns.

1. Earned Income: The full amount, before any payroll deductions, of wages and salaries, overtime pay, commissions, fees, tips and bonuses, and other compensation for personal services.
2. Other Income: Annuities, insurance policies, retirement funds, pensions, disability or death benefits, and other similar types of income.
3. Periodic Support Payments: Alimony and child support payments, regular contributions received from organizations or from persons outside the household.
4. Military Payments: All regular pay, special pay and allowances received by a member of the armed forces.
5. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): The welfare assistance a household member receives.
6. Income from Assets: Income generated by an asset owned by a household member.
7. Self-Employment Income: The net amount they generate from their business. Net income equals gross revenue generated by the business minus business expenses, except for expenses for business expansion or depreciation. On page 12, you will find Best Practices for Documenting Income for the Self-Employed.
8. Child Support/Alimony: The full amount of court-ordered alimony or child support unless the applicant certifies they are not receiving it, and they have taken reasonable legal steps to collect the amount due.
9. Temporarily Absent Household Members: Include the income of a temporarily absent person if the resident elects to include them in their household. Examples include someone in a medical facility or someone working away from home temporarily.
10. Permanently Confined Household Members: Include the income of a person permanently confined to a medical facility if the resident elects to include them in their household. Examples include a frail spouse confined to a nursing home or a disabled child confined to an institution.
11. Military Exclusion: Exclude an adult child on active military duty, and their income, from the household and your calculations.

Once you have determined your AMI level, you can reach out to properties that offer units at Affordable/Workforce rates for your specific level.