Each one of Birmingham’s citizens deserves to live in a home they can afford. And every developer should design housing with dignity, protecting residents from displacement. Whether it’s your first home where you’ll grow your family or your last home where you’ll enjoy retirement, Mayor Woodfin is committed to prioritizing housing stability for Birmingham’s residents.
Policy Priorities
Converting vacant lots into permanently affordable single-family housing.
The Birmingham Land Bank Authority has made significant strides acquiring nearly 700 vacant lots and getting them into the hands of homebuilders. By reforming our zoning codes to make it easier for small-scale developers to take on these projects, we’ll use infill development to give choice to young families and seniors. And by creating a pattern book of single-family designs ready for construction according to our zoning codes, we’ll remove time and cost barriers to getting these projects done.
Completing the revitalization of the historic Smithfield, College Hills, and Graymont neighborhoods with 900 new, affordable housing units.
Smithfield, College Hills, and Graymont shaped Birmingham’s history, and they deserve to be part of its future. As anchors of Black homeownership and civic leadership, they played a defining role in building Birmingham’s middle class. Through the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative, we’ve secured transformative federal investment to bring new life to these communities. We’ll complete that work with 900 new, affordable housing units that honors their legacy while creating real opportunity for the families who call them home.
Delivering critical home repairs to help more seniors and low-income families stay in their homes.
In a city that believes residents should be able to live with dignity at every stage of life, no family should be forced out of their home because they cannot afford a roof repair or hot water heater replacement. That’s why Mayor Woodfin launched the Critical Repair Program100 Homes, 100 Days initiative, an owner-occupied home repair program offering financial assistance to low-income homeowners through the Neighborhood Revitalization Fund. We’ll build on this foundation by creating a permanent home repair initiative with year-round intake, streamlined contractor matching, and a focus on preserving intergenerational homeownership across Birmingham’s neighborhoods.
Creating a legal defense fund for renters and unhoused neighbors.
Mayor Woodfin believes that in a fully mobile society, someone from the bottom quartile would have equal chances of moving into the top quartile in the next generation. But the legacy of segregation means opportunity is closely tied to place. No family should be evicted without proper legal representation. We’ll establish a legal defense fund for these residents, offering no-cost legal services for contracted attorneys to represent evicted families in court proceedings and pursue the housing stability that opens up every other pathway towards economic opportunity.
Lead a comprehensive, compassionate, community-centered plan to address systemic homelessness.
We are aiming for permanent housing; mental health recovery and housing support; workforce development; and prevention services. Through the use of data-informed decisions and collaborative partnerships we will align resources to not only be equitably allocated, but also to meet the rapidly changing and diverse needs of our unhoused populations in Birmingham. While permanence would be the goal, we will always prioritize empathy and compassion for all residents, giving every individual dignity and respect in their journey. Redefining community and leading with compassion and accountability, Birmingham’s vision is toward a time when homelessness is rare, brief, and one-time.
Randall’s Record
- Acquired nearly 700 vacant properties with the Birmingham Land Bank Authority.
- Redeveloped the Southtown Housing Community, including 143 affordable housing units for seniors.
- Promoted investment in 24 federally-designated Opportunity Zones through the Birmingham Inclusive Growth Fund.
- Earned a $50 million Choice Neighborhoods Grant, mobilizing $283 million in redevelopment funds for Smithfield, College Hills, and Graymont.
- Offered down payment assistance through the Ready to Own Program, with up to $10,000 for qualified first-time home buyers.
- Simplified the zoning process for infill development leveraging duplex and triplex developments on previously-vacant lots.
