On Atlanta’s Historic Westside, families who have lived here for generations face some of the steepest housing pressures in the city. Rents continue to rise, incomes remain far below the regional average, and far too many families live one unexpected bill away from losing their home.

That’s why Westside Future Fund (WFF) is grateful for renewed support from the Fulton County Community Services Program. For the third year in a row, CSP funding will help us provide emergency rental and utility assistance — keeping families stable during moments of crisis.

What This Means for Families

Last year, nearly one in eight households in WFF’s Home on the Westside program relied on this lifeline. For many families, it meant being able to stay in their apartment when unexpected bills hit or keeping the lights on during a tough month.

These challenges are all too common in historically disinvested neighborhoods, where 70% of residents live below the poverty line. They reflect the lived reality of many Westside families — resilient and deeply rooted in community, yet vulnerable to being priced out of the neighborhoods they’ve always called home.

Building Stability

Through Home on the Westside, WFF pairs affordable housing with wraparound supports — from financial literacy workshops to education referrals — that help families move beyond crisis and toward economic mobility. In 2025, more than 400 Westside residents will benefit from these combined efforts.

A Shared Commitment

For seven years, Fulton County has invested in this vision — first helping us expand educational opportunities for students, and now helping families remain housed. Together, we’re ensuring the historic Westside’s restoration is compassionate, inclusive, and rooted in community retention.

Because when families who built these neighborhoods can stay in these neighborhoods, the historic Westside moves closer to becoming a community Dr. King would be proud to call home.