HUD Partners with DeKalb County on One DeKalb Lives Affordable Housing Initiative

Front row, left to right: Burrell Ellis, DeKalb CEO, Ed Jennings, Jr. HUD SE Regional Administrator, Donna Edler, DeKalb County Board of Education Board member, Police Officer Bernadette Hooker, and Sharon Barnes Sutton, DeKalb County District 4 Commissioner

HUD Regional Administrator Ed Jennings, Jr. participated in a new DeKalb County initiative announcement entitled One DeKalb Lives. DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer Burrell Ellis: (http://www.co.dekalb.ga.us/portals/ceo/ceo_biography.html) announced at a recent local event the details regarding ONE DeKalb Lives: (http://www.co.dekalb.ga.us/onedekalblives/index.html), a comprehensive affordable housing initiative, and the Good Neighbor Next Door initiative, an innovative program to put Teachers and First Responders into homes in some of DeKalb County's most attractive neighborhoods.

The announcement was made at the home of DeKalb Police Officer Bernadette Hooker in Stone Mountain, who already purchased a home under ONE DeKalb Lives through the NSP-1 program.

"CEO Ellis' strong leadership is very evident as he continues to innovatively work to provide affordable housing for those he serves in DeKalb County especially in these most challenging economic times," said Jennings. "His work is a model for others to follow and he is a committed partner with HUD making a difference in the lives of those that we mutually serve."

"Starting right now, our Good Neighbor Next Door program: (http://www.co.dekalb.ga.us/onedekalblives/programs.html) through ONE DeKalb Lives will ensure that as many FHA foreclosures as possible are acquired by teachers, police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians," said CEO Ellis. "We are elated that HUD has approved an expanded geographical area of eligibility for DeKalb, where eligible first responders and teachers can receive a 50 percent discount on foreclosed FHA homes."

Furthermore, Citizens Trust Bank was announced as a private partner in the initiative. Citizens Trust Bank, a community based lender, developed a special mortgage program that is tailored for the Good Neighbor Next Door initiative.

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