Former NBA Star Dominique Wilkins Provides Rental Relief To 25 Atlanta Renters Through FreeRent ATL

Former NBA star Dominique Wilkins and his wife Jedidia are providing rental relief to 25 Atlantans this year through the non-profit FreeRent ATL.

Wilkins, a nine-time NBA All-Star and Hall of Famer who played 11 seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, and now serves as the team’s Vice President of Basketball Operations, is keenly aware that the average renting family has less than $650 in savings. In Atlanta, the average renting family spends over 42% of their income on rent, well above the acceptable “affordable” level of 30% set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“Unexpected situations can put a renting family in a real financial hole,” said Wilkins.

“FreeRent ATL has proven that by providing rental assistance and support services we can give families a chance to get stabilized and learn to start building wealth that will give them a cushion in the future,” Jedidia said. “Most renting families are just one unfortunate event away from experiencing housing instability or even homelessness. As housing costs continue to skyrocket, we have the ability to make a difference in peoples lives by providing a hand up with rental relief and support services when they really need them.”

FreeRent, which will be expanding to Los Angeles in the fall, offers annual grants for one year of rental assistance along with wraparound services to help get struggling renters back on their feet. The organization was launched by the Roots Real Estate Investment Community, which allows people to invest as little as $100 in real estate, and allows tenants to invest in the properties in which they live through a program called “Live in it Like You Own it.”

“I can breathe,” said Derrick, a 2024 Free Rent ATL recipient. “Because of FreeRent, I can breathe. And if you can breathe, you can move forward.”

When Derrick’s wife was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, she was given just six months to live, but she continued working 12-hour days to help support their family. Since her death, Derrick has become the caretaker of six children from age 3 to teens.

Through a partnership with the Society Of St. Vincent de Paul and other nonprofits, FreeRent moved Derrick and his family from a hotel room into a Roots home. Since then, the family has thrived — the children have health insurance and a yard to play in, and Derrick is building his savings.