It Takes a Team: Leonard Adams on Building Affordable Housing in Atlanta
QuestCDC's Founder & CEO joins Michael Russell of H. J. Russell & Company for the first episode of the We Build Podcast.
Affordable housing doesn't happen because of one organization, one funding source, or one big idea. It happens because many people with different roles decide to pull in the same direction. That's the heart of the conversation when Leonard Adams, Founder and CEO of QuestCDC, sat down with Michael Russell, CEO of H. J. Russell & Company, for Episode 1 of the We Build Podcast.
The need is real
The Atlanta Regional Commission estimates that Metro Atlanta will need roughly 367,000 more homes to keep pace with growth. Meeting a number like that takes developers, public agencies, funders, designers, contractors, and neighborhood organizations working together from the earliest stage of a project.
From a family of entrepreneurs to community development
Leonard traces his path to this work back to his family's entrepreneurial roots in Detroit and to his mother's employment agency in Atlanta. Seeing workers struggle to find stable housing showed him how closely a person's job and their home are linked. That experience eventually led him to found QuestCDC in 2001.
Blending funding to keep rents within reach
Few affordable developments are financed by a single source. Leonard explains that a mix of government funding, corporate impact investment, and philanthropy is what allows nonprofit developers like QuestCDC to hold rents at affordable levels even as construction costs keep climbing.
Housing plus support
Leonard also talks about supportive housing, which pairs affordable homes with services such as help getting identification and navigating benefits. Those supports can make the difference in whether residents stay housed for the long term, and they reflect QuestCDC's belief that a home is a foundation, not just a unit.
The right team for the right project
One of the episode's practical lessons is about building the project team. Leonard makes the case that the best contractor for a development is the one whose size and experience fit that project, not simply the biggest name available. Getting that match right keeps budgets and timelines aligned.
QuestCDC and H. J. Russell & Company have worked together on several developments, including Residences at Grove Park, Heritage Village, and Simpson West. The projects are part of what the two organizations call the Westside Housing Trifecta, a $115 million closing of three projects within weeks of each other.
Start the conversation with neighbors and the city early
Leonard stresses that projects move more smoothly when developers engage honestly and early with neighborhoods and with the city's planning offices. In his view, understanding Atlanta's community planning process isn't an obstacle to development. It's a requirement for building trust and moving a project through approvals successfully.
Looking ahead
The conversation also touches on Mayor Andre Dickens' goal of 20,000 to 25,000 affordable housing units, and on what it will take for Atlanta to get there. Leonard looks ahead to QuestCDC's 25th anniversary and closes with advice for any developer assembling a team for a first affordable housing project in Atlanta.
Key takeaways
Collaboration works best when developers, funders, agencies, contractors, and community organizations are at the table from the start.
Blending public funding, corporate impact investment, and philanthropy helps keep rents affordable despite rising costs.
Matching the contractor to the size and type of the project keeps budgets and schedules on track.
Early, transparent engagement with the city and neighborhoods builds trust and helps projects move forward.
Reaching Atlanta's affordable housing goals will take continued partnership among funders and developers.
Listen to the full conversation on the We Build Podcast from H. J. Russell & Company, and learn more about QuestCDC's work at questcdc.org.
