Atlanta Housing Director Eugene Jones resigns, Mayor Andre Dickens requests national search for succesor

ATLANTA—Eugene Jones, director of the Atlanta Housing Authority, tendered his resignation on Tuesday, Sept. 12, marking the end of his nearly four-year tenure overseeing housing initiatives in the city of Atlanta. Mayor Andre Dickens praised Jones’ contributions and said he would request that the Atlanta Housing Authority Board launch a national search to find a successor.

Jones’ last day will be Dec. 31, 2023, officials said. 

Jones, a seasoned housing professional, assumed the role of Atlanta Housing Director in Oct. 2019 under Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms after serving as head of the Chicago Housing Authority. Throughout his tenure in Atlanta, Jones made significant strides in addressing housing issues, advancing affordable housing initiatives, and fostering community development.

Eugene Jones, director of the Atlanta Housing Authority, tendered his resignation today (Sept. 12), marking the end of his nearly four-year tenure overseeing housing initiatives in the city of Atlanta. Mayor Andre Dickens praised Jones’ contributions and said he would request that the Atlanta Housing Authority Board launch a national search to find a successor.

“I thank Eugene Jones for his service to Atlanta Housing and the people of Atlanta. Eugene has been a close partner on all our affordable housing efforts and thanks to his help, we are on track to reach our goal of creating or preserving 20,000 units over eight years.

Atlanta Housing has made great strides under Eugene’s leadership, and we are grateful he has agreed to stay until the end of the year to ensure continuity until that role is filled.

I have requested that the AH Board conduct a national search to secure the exceptional champion Atlanta deserves to have at the helm of one of our most important institutions.

Atlanta Housing and the City of Atlanta secured a $40 million Choice Neighborhoods grant for the transformation of the former Bowen Homes site, bolstering AH’s efforts to revitalize distressed neighborhoods and enhance the quality of life for some of our most long-underserved residents. This grant will pave the way for a more than $500 million comprehensive neighborhood transformation on the westside of Atlanta.

Eugene started the development process for the Atlanta Civic Center, supported our relocation of residents from Forest Cove and crafted a new five-year vision for AH that has put the organization—alone—on a path to create 10,000 units of affordable housing in eight years—halfway to our goal of 20,000 affordable units. Further, the Housing Choice Voucher program expanded to 19,000 households under his leadership.

Thank you, Eugene, for a job well done.”