About Us
The organization formerly known as the Housing Authority of Clayton County (HACC) is rebranding as Develop Clayton. This change reflects a broader, forward-looking mission focused on economic development, housing revitalization, and community impact across Clayton County. While the name has evolved, the organization's core purpose, programs, and commitment to providing quality, safe, and affordable housing remain the same.
What We Do
Develop Clayton has been a leading provider and/or facilitator of housing redevelopment and rehabilitation in Clayton County.
Develop Clayton was created by the Clayton County Board of Commissioners initially to act as a financial "conduit" providing tax-exempt financing for developers seeking to construct or rehabilitate multifamily housing developments. Projects financed through Develop Clayton are intended to provide quality, affordable housing for Clayton County citizens.
In addition, Develop Clayton has been a leading provider and/or facilitator of housing redevelopment and rehabilitation in Clayton County, with experience in the administration of federal and local programs that are designed to address potential urban blight, neighborhood deterioration, and substandard housing construction, all while enhancing the overall quality of life and economic development in Clayton County and the metro Atlanta region.
More specifically, the "programs" of Develop Clayton have included those whereby Develop Clayton's role is as a local administrator for federally funded housing programs of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), namely the Department's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Programs. These programs provide federal dollars for the rehabilitation of distressed local residences needing emergency repairs, retrofitting to accommodate seniors and citizens with disabilities, and rehab to raise the quality of home construction so that all residences are within code and able to maintain current and projected property values. Note: Develop Clayton is not currently administering any federally funded housing rehabilitation programs.
In addition, the Develop Clayton programs include locally funded rehabilitation of multi-family and single-family residences, with program income provided by Develop Clayton revenues garnered from bond fees paid by developers and income from Premier Garden Apartment Homes in College Park, which is owned and operated by Develop Clayton through its Facilities Holding Company. The Authority's primary home rehab efforts are facilitated through Home Repair Program (HRP), which provide grants to local, qualified homeowners to rehabilitate their residences when they are in need of emergency repairs, are not up to code, and/or may threaten the health and welfare of inhabitants.
Unlike similar organizations, Develop Clayton does not administer public housing or Housing Choice (Section 8) housing vouchers. The administrator of public housing & Section 8 vouchers in Clayton County is the Jonesboro Housing Authority. That office can be reached at 770.478.7282.
Who We Are
Develop Clayton is an independent, autonomous agency created by the Clayton County Board of Commissioners (BOC) under Georgia Law to stimulate economic growth in Clayton County, Georgia (USA), by providing quality, safe and affordable housing for its residents.
Develop Clayton is governed by its own five-member Board of Commissioners, appointed to five-year terms by the Clayton County Commission, to determine the policies and programs in accordance with the bylaws of this autonomous agency.
Develop Clayton is operated day-to-day by a staff of professionals and their contractors, with leadership provided by the Executive Director.
The Executive Director provides leadership, guidance, and vision for Develop Clayton, its subsidiaries, and programs therein. The Executive Director works closely with a team of highly qualified (licensed and certified) consultants to address fiscal management, bond financing, human resources, and legal/public relations matters.
The Executive Administrator supports daily operations and administrative needs of the Executive Director and Develop Clayton overall.
The Program Manager handles the administration of programs and service for that support low-to-moderate income Clayton County citizens. Develop Clayton works with local rehabilitation contractors who are qualified to provide the lowest cost construction management and general contracting services for all of its rehabilitation programs and housing inspectors who are contracted to inspect pre- and post-construction.
Growing into Independence as a local administrator of federal housing programs
In 1998, Develop Clayton was approached by the Clayton County Director of Economic Development to administer the federal HOME and CDBG Programs. At that time, the County was part of the Georgian Urban Counties Consortium that included Fulton, Cobb, and Gwinnett Counties, as well as a few other metro Atlanta cities. Clayton County and its Housing Authority were part of this Consortium until 2000.
In order for the County to stand alone, it had to meet a threshold designed by a HUD formula. That threshold was $30,000 short at the time the County sought this independent administrative positioning, so in good faith, Develop Clayton contributed the $30,000 to the County in order that it, through Develop Clayton, could continue administering the CDBG and HOME Programs for the benefit of local residents in need. Develop Clayton then served as the local administrator of the CDBG funds through 2007.
Economic and Quality of Life Impact
Develop Clayton has a direct and indirect impact - in a number of ways - on the economic development and quality of life in Clayton County. By serving as a financial conduit to provide tax-exempt financing for developers, the Authority helped to facilitate the construction and redevelopment of quality, affordable housing for residents of Clayton County.
In addition, through the successful ownership and operation of its Premier Garden Apartment Homes and Pointe South Apartments, the Authority is afforded revenues to invest in a number of programs for local families. Furthermore, the Authority has a history of successfully administering federal home rehabilitation programs, bringing tax dollars back to Clayton County, where they are reinvesting in upgrading the community's current housing stock.
Indirectly, by serving as one of the leading agencies for home rehabilitation and neighborhood redevelopment in Clayton County, Develop Clayton helps prevent neighborhood blight and falling property values for the benefit of local residents and property owners.
Further diversification of the Develop Clayton housing program portfolio
Other programs created and administered by Develop Clayton include the Alternative Housing Funding Program, the Home Repair Program (HRP), and the Student Housing Initiative Program (SHIP), operated in conjunction with the Clayton County School System. For the last several years, Develop Clayton has also received funds for its County Funded Rehab Program. (Please visit our history page for more details)
