Photo by Julianna Leopold

ATLANTA—The leader of Mercy Housing Southeast believes its work extends beyond providing a roof over a family’s head, but includes services, food pantries and educational programs to help families and seniors thrive.

The affordable housing nonprofit marks the 30th anniversary of its founding when the Sisters of Mercy of Belmont and Sisters of Mercy in Baltimore partnered to open its first senior citizen complex in Belmont, North Carolina. It was a branch of the original Mercy Housing that grew out of a ministry of the Sisters of Mercy of Omaha in 1981. Mercy Housing has since become one of the largest providers of affordable housing in the country serving families in 45 states.

There are three decades of success working with families and individuals, said James Alexander, Mercy Housing Southeast president, proving that “we’re not going to give up and we’re not going away.”

Mercy Housing is an ideal organization for anyone looking to shape affordable housing solutions—whether through philanthropy, volunteering or board service, Alexander said. It serves some 3,700 residents in 3,000 homes across 44 properties, including in the Diocese of Savannah and the Atlanta Archdiocese, according to Mercy Housing Southeast.

For the anniversary, a “Power of Home” event on Oct. 19 will draw together supporters, benefactors and others.

The organization marks its anniversary at the same time as it has three new housing projects underway. When completed, Alexander said some 400 families across the region will move into new homes.

Clairmont Family Development will offer 67 apartments to working families. It’s going up within a 10-minute walk to an existing medical clinic operated by Mercy Care and other services.

A 76-unit building called Henderson Place is for families. It is being built in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward neighborhood, near the Krog Street Market and the popular Beltline walking trail. It is expected to open by early 2027.

The largest ongoing project will make 100 apartments for senior citizens available in Southwest Atlanta. The organization is gutting an existing building to refurbish it for tenants.

As part of its wrap-around services, Mercy Housing has made it a priority to build a comprehensive support network. Many of the housing complexes offer food education and access to food pantries. Youngsters can participate in after-school programs at family properties while older students recently toured Georgia State University, Georgia Tech and Historically Black Colleges at the Atlanta University Center. There’s also a commitment to helping families and seniors work through healthcare issues.

Mercy Housing joined other housing providers with the Atlanta Regional Commission to write the “Housing Forward 2035” plan, aimed at reducing the housing shortage in the Atlanta area. Estimates show metro Atlanta will need more than 300,000 homes by 2035 to match demand.

Mercy Housing views homes as a human right, Alexander said, so these affordability challenges require a large response, equal to building the Interstate highway system.

“In many ways, the response to it hasn’t been as urgent” as the need, he said.