Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1534028
64 maconmagazine.com | April/May 2025 The Affordable Housing Fund recently hosted their first ever sold-out Developer's Summit at the Macon Mall to promote the creation of affordable housing. To find out about future opportunities like this, follow Macon-Bibb County Affordable Housing Fund on Facebook. that people can find housing on their own. We don't want people to be in a boarding house. Vouchers dictate the number of bedrooms, and we want people to live in an area where it's easy to access food and doctors." Since the pandemic subsided and the rent moratorium ended, "People didn't understand that you could delay your payments, but you still had to pay," Bender said. "The education behind that was not made clear to a lot of folks. We've seen more people experiencing homelessness, especially families." "We've had people who have jobs, some of them even have vehicles," Bender added. "All of these hotels and motels popping up can be kind of predatory. Some folks end up in extended-stay motels, but that only makes it harder to save money. The amount they charge by the week is insane. It could take three-fourths of their paycheck." Single mothers with children comprise more than 90 percent of the families that utilize the center. They also help get children registered for school and attending regularly, according to their age. Elementary school students go to John Lewis Elementary, and high schoolers go to Howard. A bus is provided. Bender also noted that not being in a normal household environment can traumatize many children. "We partner with Macon Mental Health Matters and other shelters in town like Daybreak and the Salvation Army. We're seeing the same ABOVE Hunt School Village is a completed project by In-Fill Housing, Inc. ABOVE RIGHT Alison Bender sits with Ricky Veal at Brookdale Resource Center. Photo by Matt Odom. people, but we communicate so that services are not duplicated." For Macon families, the collaboration between these entities provides more than four walls and a roof. From the cold days of the pandemic, these new programs provide home, and with it, hope. "We've seen more people experiencing homelessness, especially families. We've had people who have jobs, some of them even have vehicles. All of these hotels and motels popping up can be kind of predatory."