Transform Westside Summit – September 15, 2017
Feature Presentation: The Atlanta Housing Authority
Presented by: Catherine Buell, President & Chief Executive Officer
About Catherine Buell: As president and chief executive officer of the Atlanta Housing Authority – which provides affordable housing to more than 22,000 of Atlanta’s low- and extremely low-income households – Catherine Buell is leading the agency’s strategic, financial and operational efforts to expand the city’s affordable housing options. Building on past successes, including the award of a $30 million Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant from HUD, Buell’s focus is on the creation of modern, affordable communities with access to important amenities; affordable housing preservation; making community and program investments designed to increase self-sufficiency for families and seniors; and the long-term economic stewardship and viability of the agency.
Prior to arriving at AHA, Buell served as the executive director of St. Elizabeths East, Washington, D.C., government’s largest redevelopment project and future home of the District’s Innovation Hub, which will support the development of research, technology, business and entrepreneurship.
Buell chaired the District of Columbia’s Historic Preservation Review Board and earned a number of awards for her revitalization efforts – among them, the Built by Women DC Award, the Historic Preservation Review Board Chair’s Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation and the American Institute of Architects DC’s Special Citation. Additionally, she was a member of the board of trustees for the National Urban League.
A graduate of Spelman College and the Georgetown University Law Center, Buell practiced in the Abu Dhabi and Washington offices of Patton Boggs LLP (now Squire Patton Boggs), where she counseled institutions regarding investments in domestic and international real estate assets and private equity funds.
About The Atlanta Housing Authority: The Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta, Georgia (AHA) is the largest housing authority in Georgia and one of the largest in the nation. AHA provides and facilitates affordable housing resources for nearly 22,000 low-income households comprised of approximately 50,000 people. These affordable housing resources include AHA-owned residential communities, AHA-sponsored mixed-income, mixed-finance residential communities, tenant-based vouchers, project based rental assistance, supportive housing arrangements and homeownership opportunities.
AHA has broad corporate powers including, but not limited to, the power to acquire, manage, own, operate, develop and revitalize affordable housing. AHA’s programs are funded and regulated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”). Using its Moving to Work flexibility, AHA has implemented a variety of innovations that benefit low-income families and expand housing choice.
AHA’s approach to providing quality affordable housing and human development services is based on the belief that people can do better when given access to quality living environments and the tools they need to become self-sufficient.
The Gathering Spot is located at 384 Northyards Blvd NW, Building 100, Atlanta, GA 30313.
The Transform Westside Summit is held on the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month. Please feel free to invite additional partners to attend this Summit. They can sign up on our website: www.westsidefuturefund.org
Many in our community are driven by their spiritual faith to participate in the Westside revitalization effort. The time at the beginning of our meetings is an opportunity to share various inspirational reflections. While the speakers may articulate their personal faith, it is meant to be inclusive, inspiring and meaningful. All are welcome.