South Fulton launches housing program to encourage officers to live where they serve

South Fulton police officers have new housing option

The South Fulton Police Department has launched a new program to help their officers find housing within the city. They're now able to rent single family homes at a reduced rate.

SOUTH FULTON, Ga. - The city of South Fulton Police Department wants more of its officers to live where they work.

This is why they have partnered with Progress Residential.

What we know:

"We want to get our police officers moving back into the city," South Fulton Police Chief Keith Meadows said.

"Certainly, there were some areas that are more challenging than others and what we want to do is make sure we have the right type of presence in those particular areas," he added.

Chief Meadows says he's already seen success in the areas where the new officers live.

"Having our police officers there instantly translated into residents coming over and having dialogue with our police officers and all of these things certainly help to foster communications around safety," he explained.

"This is one of the ways we are putting a stake in the ground and making an investment frankly in the communities where we're operating," Ama Romaine, Progress Residential, Executive VP and General Counsel explained.

And South Fulton residents who now live near officers say they do feel safer.

"It will be good for us as residents to know that we have some in the community," Claudia Smalls said.

"It just makes it a safe space sort of you know you're not too worried because, like my nephew, he comes over here sometimes, and you're not too worried about anything really happening to him," Saje Alston added.

What's next:

While the South Fulton Police Department is the first to partner with Progress Residential for this pilot program, the organization is also working with other departments throughout metro Atlanta with the goal of reducing crime in the area.