The bulk of the nation’s affordable housing is found in unsubsidized small to medium multifamily (SMMF) properties, yet these properties are at risk of being lost to rising rents, deterioration, and destabilization. To increase the nation’s affordable housing stock, we must preserve and invest in these affordably priced homes to provide stability for residents and help communities thrive. 

Through our national Preservation Next program, Enterprise equips affordable housing practitioners with training, tools, and resources to preserve this critical source of affordable housing and protect residents from displacement. Preservation Next is advancing this work in California and Colorado, and is now bringing this program to the Southeast.  

Learn more below about how Southeast organizations can access Preservation Next tools, training, and grant resources to support SMMF properties in Metro Atlanta and South Florida. 

About the Southeast Preservation Next Academy 

The Southeast Preservation Next Academy (the Academy) is a series of publicly available, no-cost, virtual training sessions designed to assist affordable housing and preservation practitioners with guidance to acquire, rehabilitate, and preserve the affordability of SMMF properties. 

The Academy is slated to launch in October 2023 and will include topics such as: 

  • Organizational sustainability and business planning 
  • Acquisition, property identification, and evaluation of SMMF properties 
  • Financing for SMMF preservation 
  • Navigating rehabilitation of SMMF properties 
  • Sustainability, resilience, and health considerations 
  • Preservation development models 
  • Policy and its impacts on preservation and housing stability 
  • Property and asset management 
  • Housing stability and eviction prevention 

Join the Southeast Preservation Next Academy Cohort 

The Southeast Preservation Next Academy will also provide a cohort of mission-aligned developers and affordable housing providers in Metro Atlanta and South Florida with additional training, catalytic grants, and technical assistance to manage active preservation projects, preserve their existing portfolio, and provide resident stability.  

We are pleased to announce a call for applications to join the Southeast Preservation Next Academy Cohort (the Cohort). Participating cohort organizations and entities will receive: 

Training – In addition to the Academy’s virtual sessions that are available to the public, cohort organizations will receive additional deeper dive workshops and training to help them navigate the preservation development process. 

Catalytic Grants – Participating cohort organizations will be eligible to receive between $35,000-$50,000 in grant support to activate a preservation pipeline and build organizational capacity to continue their preservation work. The exact grant amount will be developed in partnership with Enterprise and finalized in an Academy Action Plan.  

Technical Assistance – Cohort members may request technical assistance funds and/or professional services to address project-specific needs best met by a consultant. 

Peer-to-Peer Learning – Participating cohort members will learn from, and problem solve with other cohort organizations embarking on preservation efforts across Southeast. 

How to Apply 

To participate in the cohort, organizations must submit an application.  

The deadline to apply is Friday, August 25, 2023, at 5 pm EST. Applications will only be accepted via SlideRoom.  

Please read the following FAQs for more information. Please contact Sara Haas, Senior Director with any questions about the application guidelines. For technical support with SlideRoom, contact support@slideroom.com.  

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is the difference between the Academy and the Cohort? The Southeast Preservation Next Academy is a virtual training series open to anyone interested in information, guidance, and resources to preserve the unsubsidized housing stock in SMMF properties across Metro Atlanta and South Florida. Affordable housing developers, owners and operators, public sector practitioners, funders, and advocates are encouraged to join.

    The Southeast Preservation Next Academy Cohort is a select group of mission aligned organizations and entities that develop, own, and/or operate SMMF properties. These cohort members will receive additional tools and resources to activate or advance their preservation pipeline and/or stabilize their existing portfolio. Please see question seven for more information about the resources available to Southeast Preservation Next Academy Cohort members.
  2. What is the focus of the Southeast Preservation Next Academy and the Cohort? The Southeast Preservation Next Academy and Cohort will be focused on acquiring, rehabilitating, and stabilizing unsubsidized and unrestricted units in small to medium multifamily (SMMF) properties – also known as “naturally occurring” affordable housing – and preventing displacement of residents who are living in the homes. The Preservation Next Academy’s content and tools may also be relevant and applicable to preserving subsidized properties. While equally important, this is not the core focus of Preservation Next’s Academy and Cohort.
  3. What property sizes fall within Preservation Next’s definition of SMMF? The Academy and Cohort will focus on preserving the affordability of properties with less than 100 units, with priority placed on the unique aspects of preserving properties with 2 to 49 units.
  4. What types of organizations are eligible to participate in the Southeast Preservation Next Academy Cohort? Applicants may be a 501c3 nonprofit organization, a mission aligned for-profit entity, or housing authority that aims to preserve small to medium- multifamily affordable housing and increase their capacity in this space. While the Academy will focus on preserving the affordability of properties with less than 100 units, priority will be placed on cohort members working to preserve properties with 2 to 49 units.

    BIPOC-led organizations and organizations advancing preservation and resident stability in communities of color are encouraged to apply. Organizations must operate primarily in the Southeast Market’s geographical scope of Metro Atlanta (Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale Counties) and South Florida (Miami-Dade and Broward Counties).
  5. Is the Southeast Preservation Next Academy Cohort the right opportunity for my organization? The Cohort is best suited for organizations that seek to preserve small to medium multifamily affordable housing or aim to increase their capacity in this space.
  6. Does my organization need previous experience with SMMF preservation to be selected into the Cohort? Previous acquisition of a property is not a requirement to participate in the Cohort, and organizations interested in launching a SMMF preservation focus are eligible to apply.
  7. What are the benefits of participating in the Southeast Preservation Next Academy Cohort? Every organization/entity participating in the Cohort will have access to:
  • Cohort-only training and workshop sessions in which participants will be able to access additional tools and resources
  • Grant funding to increase organizational capacity to pursue or continue SMMF preservation activities
  • Funds for individualized technical assistance best met through a consultant
  • Peer learning and networking opportunities
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