Alan Ferguson, the chief housing and real estate officer of Atlanta Housing (AH), announced his departure from the agency, effective August 1. His resignation concludes a year-long tenure with AH that began in June 2024 and is described as a personal decision to pursue new opportunities.
Ferguson previously directed Atlanta Habitat for Humanity for two years and held significant positions in the nonprofit sector. His background includes a role as senior vice president of development and operations at the American Opportunity Foundation, as well as eight years with Invest Atlanta.
While AH officials have not disclosed the specific reasons behind Ferguson’s departure, he conveyed to Atlanta Civic Circle that he is leaving voluntarily. In a lighthearted comment, he referenced his high school job at Captain D’s, stating, “I haven’t been fired from a job since I worked at Captain D’s in high school. And even they hired me back.”
Maya Hodari, serving as AH’s senior vice president of real estate, will step in as the interim real estate chief starting August 1. Ferguson’s contributions to affordable housing initiatives during his time at AH include negotiating significant financing and development deals with both lenders and private developers.
Among the notable projects he was involved in are the Bowen Homes project, Herndon Square, and the Sylvan Hills apartment complexes. Ferguson’s innovative approach to The Proctor—a mixed-income development on Oliver St.—is particularly highlighted. Instead of utilizing the conventional Low-Income Housing Tax Credits typically seen in affordable housing, this $56 million, 137-unit project successfully attracted private funding sources such as Goldman Sachs and the Basis Investment Group.
Rod Mullice, managing partner at Windsor Stevens, praised Ferguson as a leading community investment banker, noting his unique ability to align public missions with private capital to benefit communities.
Marc Pollack, president of EQ Housing Advisors, a development partner for Sylvan Hills, credited Ferguson for his vital role in the project’s advancement, which recently broke ground on its second phase. The new phase promises to deliver 233 apartments, all priced affordably for lower-income residents in Atlanta.
Ferguson’s exit occurs against a challenging backdrop for public housing authorities nationwide. Currently, Congress is deliberating potential cuts to funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), particularly impacting Section 8 voucher allocations in favor of block grants for state administration.
In preparation for anticipated funding reductions, AH’s board of commissioners recently approved a conservative budget for the 2026 fiscal year, totaling $453.3 million. This figure represents an $80.6 million decrease—15%—from the previous year’s allocation of $534 million, with over 90% of AH’s revenue sourced from HUD.
According to AH CEO Terri Lee, the FY 2026 budget reflects the expected challenges posed by reduced federal appropriations. As Ferguson departs, the agency prepares for the implications of a tightened funding environment while seeking to maintain its commitments to affordable housing initiatives.
image source from：atlantaciviccircle
