A new $1 million commitment is set to strengthen affordable housing and financial education efforts in Atlanta’s historic Westside neighborhoods. The Huntington Bank Community Foundation announced the investment on October 26, 2026, to help residents access homeownership opportunities, maintain housing stability and build long-term financial security.
The funding will support the Westside Future Fund, a nonprofit organization established in 2014 to revitalize five historic Atlanta communities while helping longtime residents remain in the neighborhoods they call home.
The investment will be divided equally among three program areas focused on housing assistance and financial empowerment. These include down payment assistance for prospective homebuyers, rental assistance and an anti-displacement property-tax fund, alongside financial literacy education and counseling.
The programs are intended to serve individuals and families earning less than 80% of the area’s median family income. By addressing both immediate housing needs and longer-term financial challenges, the initiative aims to help residents maintain stability as redevelopment and rising housing costs continue to affect communities across Atlanta.
The five neighborhoods served by Westside Future Fund are Ashview Heights, the Atlanta University Center area, English Avenue, Just Us and Vine City. These communities hold significant cultural and historical importance, including connections to Atlanta’s civil rights legacy and its historically Black colleges and universities.
Huntington’s commitment also continues a relationship established by Cadence Bank, which merged with Huntington earlier in 2026. Huntington Atlanta Regional President Randy Schultz said supporting strong communities remains central to the bank’s mission.
Westside Future Fund President and CEO John Ahmann welcomed the investment, noting that it will expand resources for homeownership, housing stability and financial education. The funding reflects an ongoing effort to encourage neighborhood revitalization without displacing the residents who have helped shape the Historic Westside.
