Signs of Grace and Progress

Spring 2026 Update

Day to day, it can be easy to miss the signs of grace around us. In the middle of busy schedules and distractions, we often overlook the quiet miracles in front of us.

Lately, I have been reminded to notice this sign of grace in particular: the image of God in every person we meet. Our residents have been reminding me of that in powerful ways.

Atlanta remains one of the hardest places in the country for someone born into poverty to move up the economic ladder. A study from Harvard University’s Opportunity Insights ranked Atlanta last among the 50 largest metro areas for economic mobility. As the Atlanta Regional Commission put it, “someone who grows up in a low-income household in metro Atlanta has a harder time moving up the economic ladder than in any other U.S. large metro area.”

This reality affects many of our residents, households who earning 50% or less of Area Median Income. And yet, our residents continue to show remarkable strength, determination, and resourcefulness. They deserve opportunities to grow.

For these reasons, resident flourishing and upward mobility became a major priority in the strategic plan we launched in June 2025. We believe stable, high-quality, affordable housing can be a launching pad toward greater opportunity that is too often out of reach for many Atlantans.

Some of these stories are just beginning. Others are already taking shape. We are especially proud of the Lowery family, who recently moved into the single-family home we purchased at the end of last year. Their new home offers more space and more room to grow. It is also part of a bigger vision: creating housing that can support families as they build stability and take steps toward future goals, including homeownership.

Our residents remind us every day that people are not defined by broken systems. They are image bearers of God, full of dignity, strength, and possibility. We are grateful to walk alongside them as they build lives of stability and flourishing for themselves and their families. They are one of the clearest signs of hope we see.