How a Progress Residential Partnership Is Supporting Housing Stability on Atlanta’s Westside
Across Atlanta’s Westside, local organizations and residents are working together to support housing stability, expand opportunity and strengthen the neighborhoods they call home.
One example is the partnership between Westside Future Fund and Progress Residential, focused on supporting legacy residents and helping families remain in the communities they have long called home. The effort includes both volunteer engagement, with Progress serving as the organization’s first Volunteer Sponsor, and a $100,000 investment supporting Westside Future Fund programs.
“Partnerships like this allow us to bring together residents, neighbors and organizations who all care deeply about the future of the Historic Westside,” said Mariel Hicks, Development Officer at the Westside Future Fund. “Support from partners like Progress Residential helps expand programs that strengthen community connections and support families.”
Together, these efforts help advance initiatives centered on housing stability and community connection.
Supporting Housing Stability and Pathways to Homeownership
A significant portion of the funding supports Westside Future Fund’s Our Next Chapter Campaign, which focuses on long-term housing stability for legacy residents. The initiative helps families remain in their neighborhoods while creating pathways to homeownership.
“This type of partnership helps us support legacy residents and expand housing stability across the Westside,” Hicks said. “Together we’re creating opportunities for families to remain in their homes and communities for generations.”
In 2025 alone, the organization’s Home on the Westside initiative supported 405 households, including:
- 220 legacy residents benefiting from affordable rents
- 66 homeowners receiving an average of $42,000 in down payment assistance
- 119 legacy homeowners receiving property tax assistance through the Anti-Displacement Tax Fund
Bringing the Community Together
In addition to housing-focused efforts, the partnership also supported programs that bring neighbors together and celebrate the Westside community.
The Holiday Wishes Program supported more than 300 youth and their families, including 40 children whose wish lists were fulfilled during a volunteer gift-wrapping event.
“Moments like the Holiday Wishes Program remind us how powerful community support can be for families,” Hicks said. “Seeing volunteers come together to make the holidays brighter for local children is incredibly meaningful.”
Community events like the Westside Proud 10-Year Anniversary Celebration and Ride for the Westside also brought residents, students and local partners together in support of the neighborhood’s future.
The anniversary celebration welcomed more than 250 attendees and raised $705,000 to support continued revitalization efforts. Ride for the Westside drew 574 participants, a 17% increase year over year, and highlighted historic landmarks across the community.
“Ride for the Westside celebrates the history and legacy of this community while bringing people together in support of its future,” Hicks said.
Students, residents and local businesses played an active role in both events, from staffing cheer stations to participating in vendor markets, reinforcing the collective effort behind ongoing community investment.
“When you’re working alongside volunteers and community partners, you get to see the impact firsthand,” said Jim Rice III, Community Engagement Manager at Progress Residential. “From wrapping gifts during the holidays to providing community cleanup before the annual Ride for the Westside, those moments make the work real. You’re not just contributing, you’re part of a community coming together.”
Where Partnership Drives Progress
This work reflects what can happen when local organizations, residents and partners come together around a shared goal. By combining resources, expertise and community insight, these efforts help more families remain and thrive on Atlanta’s Westside.
