For Elisha Dumas, the opportunity to live on the Westside marks the beginning of a new chapter at age 27.  

“I’d been staying with my mom for so long,” he said. “The home was the next step of having something of my own and being able to build equity for my family.”

Originally from New Orleans, Elisha moved to Atlanta in the third grade after Hurricane Katrina forced his family to relocate. They eventually settled in Douglasville, but Elisha always felt a connection to Atlanta’s historic Westside. He grew up attending St. Theresa Catholic Church, and it was during those years that the community began to feel like home.

“That’s where I got my [first] experience of the Westside, and I’ve wanted to move out here ever since.”

Thanks to Westside Future Fund’s Home on the Westside program, that long-held dream is now a reality. 

Elisha began applying for his first home in September 2024. Just two months later, in November, he became a homeowner, receiving the keys to a beautifully renovated house in the heart of the Westside. “Everything was given to me and written out step by step on how to go about the [homeownership] process,” he said.

Home on the Westside is built for residents like Elisha — those who have deep roots in the Historic Westside through living, learning, or working in the community. Powered by support from corporate and philanthropic partners, the program provides down payment assistance and homeownership guidance to help long-time residents remain an essential part of the community’s future.

As Westside Future Fund continues working toward a community Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would be proud to call home, we remain focused on the vital role that safe, affordable housing plays in that vision. It’s not just about homes — it’s about building a community where all residents can live long, healthy lives and afford safe, stable housing. 

Click here to learn more about Home on the Westside.