North Fulton Poverty Task Force Archives

Addressing the Workforce Housing Crisis in North Fulton, with Jack Murphy and Nancy Diamond, North Fulton Improvement Network

April 10, 2024 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Addressing the Workforce Housing Crisis in North Fulton, with Jack Murphy and Nancy Diamond, North Fulton Improvement Network

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Addressing the Workforce Housing Crisis in North Fulton, with Jack Murphy and Nancy Diamond, North Fulton Improvement Network (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 760)

This episode of North Fulton Business Radio featured guests Jack Murphy and Nancy Diamond from the North Fulton Improvement Network. Jack and Nancy joined host John Ray to discuss the pressing issue of workforce housing, namely, affordable housing for essential workers, in North Fulton. The North Fulton Improvement Network started its work as the North Fulton Poverty Task Force, and evolved its focus towards addressing the broader economic development issue of accessible housing for those earning middle incomes, including teachers, nurses, and public officers. The dialogue also touched upon how this housing crisis impacts local schools, healthcare, and the overall economic development of North Fulton. Jack and Nancy emphasized the importance of community awareness, the role of government, private sector, and non-profit collaboration in addressing the issue, as well as potential solutions like changes in zoning laws and engaging the faith community in housing projects. The episode is a call to action for North Fulton residents and businesses to acknowledge and work on solutions for the workforce housing shortage.

To view the Future First: North Fulton Summit held on February 20, 2024, mentioned during the show, follow this link.

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is recorded and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

North Fulton Improvement Network

In 2014, a group of nonprofit and community leaders joined forces as the North Fulton Poverty Task Force to focus on raising awareness for the needs of those living and working in the community who experience financial vulnerability. However, as our research demonstrated that living in our region is challenging at multiple income levels — including those well above poverty — we renamed our organization the North Fulton Improvement Network. Now, we are a think tank that gathers research, resources, and perspectives on the interconnected issues impacting our community.

The North Fulton Improvement Network serves as a platform to provide education on the reality of living in North Fulton County and to bring together resources that currently address financial vulnerability. We are a network made up of the whole community — businesses, stakeholders, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, political leaders, and the general public. With a central belief that we need all hands on deck to address these systemic issues, NFIN works to make North Fulton a thriving, equitable, and affordable community.

NFIN serves the six cities that comprise Georgia’s North Fulton region: Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell, and Sandy Springs. We center our work on five main areas— 1) workforce housing, (2) income and employment, (3) transportation, (4) child well-being, and (5) food insecurity. All of these aspects of community both impact and are impacted by financial vulnerability. By supporting innovative private and public solutions that address one or more of these fields, we believe that we can build a North Fulton that is thriving and prosperous for all community members.

Jack Murphy

Jack Murphy is a volunteer with The Society of St. Vincent de Paul and is Chair of the North Fulton Improvement Network. He is also in his 21st year of working for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.

Prior to the Chamber, Jack worked for and with Fortune 500 companies in operations, human resources, training, and quality areas. Jack was a senior adjunct profession for Quality & Operations Management at Keller Graduate School for 14 years.

He has served on both the National and Georgia Boards of The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, responsible for Diversity, Advocacy, & Systemic Change. Jack currently is national SVDP chair of Systemic Change and Advocacy.

Jack received a BA in psychology from Belmont Abbey College and a M.Ed. from the UNC-Greensboro. Jack and his wife Nancy, a retired elementary school principal, have two grown daughters and two grandchildren. They live in Alpharetta, Georgia.

Nancy Diamond

Nancy Diamond is a Project Manager with Schmit & Associates, a real estate development firm, creating town center revitalization in communities all around the metro area.

Nancy served 8 years as a Roswell City Council Member, including a term as Mayor Pro Tem, with liaison positions with Community Development, Transportation, Recreation & Parks, and Public Safety.

In addition to her work with the North Fulton Improvement Network, Nancy has been active in area non-profit organizations, including board leadership positions in the STAR House Foundation, WellStar North Fulton Hospital, and the Roswell Rotary Club.

A native of Atlanta and a 42-year North Fulton resident, Nancy worked at Turner Broadcasting in the early years of CNN, then became a freelancer in sports television graphics. While raising her two daughters, she worked from home, first developing a corporate gift service, and later as a mortgage loan originator.

Nancy and her husband, Glenn, now relish the role of grandparents to 8-year-old Owen.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Welcome to North Fulton Business Radio
01:23 Introducing Jack Murphy and Nancy Diamond from North Fulton Improvement Network
01:56 The Mission of North Fulton Improvement Network: Addressing Workforce Housing
03:02 From Poverty Task Force to Housing Focus: The Evolution of the North Fulton Improvement Network
04:17 The Economic and Social Impact of Workforce Housing
06:11 Understanding Affordable Housing: Definitions and Implications
07:50 Why Workforce Housing Matters to North Fulton
08:50 Challenges and Solutions in Affordable Housing
11:20 The Role of Government and Economic Development in Housing
18:42 Private Enterprise and Housing Solutions
20:46 The Impact of Housing on Schools and Communities
22:37 Exploring the Shift in Neighborhood Dynamics
23:21 The Housing Industry Disruption and Generational Preferences
24:38 Addressing Teacher Housing Challenges
25:56 Collaborative Solutions for Housing and Community Improvement
35:02 The Role of Faith-Based Organizations in Affordable Housing
37:09 Engaging Businesses and Communities in Housing Solutions
41:48 Closing Remarks and Resources for Further Engagement

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

With over 750 shows and having featured over 1,200 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in our community like no one else. We are the undisputed “Voice of Business” in North Fulton!

The show welcomes a wide variety of business, non-profit, and community leaders to get the word out about the important work they’re doing to serve their market, their community, and their profession. There’s no discrimination based on company size, and there’s never any “pay to play.” North Fulton Business Radio supports and celebrates business by sharing positive business stories that traditional media ignore. Some media leans left. Some media leans right. We lean business.

John Ray, Business RadioX - North Fulton, and Owner, Ray Business Advisors — **John Ray, Business RadioX – North Fulton, and Owner, Ray Business Advisors**

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is recorded and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.

The studio address is 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

John Ray also operates his own business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneurs and small professional services firms on their value, their positioning and business development, and their pricing. His clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as consultants, coaches, attorneys, CPAs, accountants and bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.

John is the national bestselling author of The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices.

Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, with over $13 billion in assets and more than 190 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. All of Renasant’s success stems from each of their banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way of better understanding the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Holly York, North Fulton Community Charities

March 31, 2020 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Holly York, North Fulton Community Charities

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“North Fulton Business Radio,” Episode 206: Holly York, North Fulton Community Charities

Holly York, Executive Director of North Fulton Community Charities, discusses how her organization is responding to rapidly increasing food and financial assistance needs of families in North Fulton, and how you can help. She also discusses how the current crisis exposes a significant rise in financial vulnerability in North Fulton in recent years. The host of “North Fulton Business Radio” is John Ray and the show is broadcast from the North Fulton Business RadioX® studio in Alpharetta.

Holly York, Executive Director, North Fulton Community Charities

North Fulton Community Charities assists residents living in North Fulton serving the cities of Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park and Roswell with short-term emergency needs. Since 1983, NFCC has addressed homelessness and hunger in North Fulton. The need for crisis, transitional, and affordable housing continues to be a problem in the community. NFCC’s programs and services have grown to meet the challenges of North Fulton residents needing short-term assistance. The community continues to volunteer and offer generous support to help their neighbors–working families, single mothers, seniors, and veterans. The domino effect of poverty is stopped when we help a family remain in their home with food and resources.

NFCC collaborates with many local providers to provide the resources necessary to help individuals and families remain stable in our community. NFCC provides services in English and Spanish.

In response to the rapid spread of COVID-19 and the recommendations of public health officials, NFCC is temporarily suspending most programs focus on emergency services during this public health crisis. Further, volunteer shifts are suspended to reduce the number of people in NFCC buildings. The Food Pantry is open by appointment and Financial Assistance is available via the NFCC website. While these measures are taken for public safety, NFCC embraces its role to provide emergency services during this crisis.

As a provider of emergency services, NFCC is monitoring the situation closely and will continue to do everything possible to keep a clean and safe environment so they can stay open for the individuals and families that need their services.

For more information, go to their website. The most needed items list is constantly updated on their website.

Questions and Topics in this Interview:

Financial vulnerability in North Fulton
homelessness and hunger in North Fulton
suburban poverty
North Fulton Poverty Task Force
Food Pantry
Financial assistance

If you are interested in the work of the North Fulton Poverty Task Force, mentioned in this interview, go to their website, where you can read and download their 2019 report, Our Invisible Neighbors: Financial Vulnerability in North Fulton, here.

North Fulton Business Radio” is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, iHeart Radio, Stitcher, TuneIn, and others.

Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has grown to become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions with over $13 billion in assets and more than 190 banking, lending, wealth management and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. All of Renasant’s success stems from each of their banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way of better understanding the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Jack Murphy and Nancy Diamond, North Fulton Poverty Task Force

December 5, 2019 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Jack Murphy and Nancy Diamond, North Fulton Poverty Task Force

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“North Fulton Business Radio,” Episode 181: Jack Murphy and Nancy Diamond, North Fulton Poverty Task Force

Jack Murphy and Nancy Diamond of the North Fulton Poverty Task Force discuss the rising problems of financial vulnerability, home affordability, homelessness, and hunger in North Fulton, and how those problems affect the area’s business environment. Hosted by John Ray, “North Fulton Business Radio” is broadcast from the Business RadioX® studio inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

North Fulton Poverty Task Force

The North Fulton Poverty Task Force was formed in 2014 and emerged from an assessment conducted by a team of nonprofits, corporate and other business partners, academics, spiritual leaders and their stakeholders. Independently, and collectively, they recognized a rise in people seeking services. Most notably was an increase temporary housing arrangements following evictions and foreclosures. They realized that our collective capacity couldn’t keep up with demand. They needed to find ways engage the broader North Fulton community in a response strategy.

Hence the work of the North Fulton Poverty Task Force began, and several critical actions emerged from this leadership team. Most notably, the Task Force determined that it was critical to establish a benchmark to identify whether the discoveries in North Fulton were anomalies or are factors underpinning this shift a potential threat to the labor market and familial stability or our community. Efforts included outreach to various national agencies whose work was professionally and scientifically confirmed and could serve as a credible sources to examine the shifts in our dynamics in North Fulton.

The report that follows demonstrates that the anecdotal information first seen by independent agencies and policy makers was in fact reality and widespread. What emerged is a series of drivers that impact the creation of financial vulnerability leading to temporary housing solutions and in some cases, to homelessness. Through an economic lens, this is concerning as these residents are our employees, our neighbors and the children attend schools with ours. While NO direct solutions are advanced, this purposeful approach articulates the data discovered and presents a case for rational consideration.

For more information, go to the website for the North Fulton Poverty Task Force. You can also read and download their 2019 report, Our Invisible Neighbors: Financial Vulnerability in North Fulton, here.

Jack Murphy

Jack Murphy is a volunteer with The Society of St. Vincent de Paul and is Chair of the North Fulton Poverty Task Force. He also is in his 17th year of working for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.

Jack received a BA in psychology from Belmont Abbey College and a MEd. from the UNC-Greensboro. Jack and his wife Nancy, a retired elementary school principal, have two grown daughters and two grandchildren. They live in Alpharetta, GA.

Nancy Diamond

Nancy Diamond is a Project Manager with Schmit & Associates, a real estate development firm, creating town center revitalization in communities all around the metro area.

Nancy served 8 years as a Roswell City Council Member, including a term as Mayor Pro Tem, with liaison positions with Community Development, Transportation, Recreation & Parks, and Public Safety.

She has been active in area non-profit organizations, including board leadership positions in the STAR House Foundation, WellStar North Fulton Hospital, Roswell Rotary Club, and the North Fulton Poverty Task Force.

A native of Atlanta, and 38-year North Fulton resident, Nancy worked at Turner Broadcasting in the early years of CNN, then became a freelancer in sports television graphics. While raising her two daughters, she worked from home, first developing a corporate gift service, and later as a mortgage loan originator.

Nancy and her husband, Glenn, now relish the role of grandparents to 4-year old Owen.

North Fulton Business Radio” is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®, located inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta. Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has grown to become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions with approximately $13 billion in assets and more than 190 banking, lending, wealth management and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. All of Renasant’s success stems from each of their banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way of better understanding the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.