Congressman Figures Secures $2.5M in Federal Funding for Affordable Housing in Africatown

The funding will support the Africatown Redevelopment Corp.'s efforts to build and rehabilitate homes in the historic community.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 6:55pm

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U.S. Representative Shomari Figures (D-Mobile) announced $2.5 million in federal funding to support affordable housing initiatives in Africatown, a historic community in Mobile, Alabama that traces its roots to former slaves brought to the area before the Civil War. The money will go to the Africatown Redevelopment Corp., which has already built 8 new homes and plans to rehabilitate 8 historic houses in the neighborhood.

Why it matters

Africatown has long struggled with poverty and disinvestment, and this federal funding represents a significant boost to the community's efforts to revitalize itself through affordable housing development. The new and rehabilitated homes will help preserve the unique architectural and cultural heritage of Africatown while providing quality, affordable living options for residents.

The details

The $2.5 million in federal funding secured by Rep. Figures will support the Africatown Redevelopment Corp.'s "Africatown Forever Home" program, which has already built 8 new homes and plans to build 2 more. The nonprofit is also acquiring and rehabilitating 8 historic houses in the community. The new homes feature designs inspired by the "wide house" style used by the original African settlers, with 9-foot ceilings, energy-efficient features, and prices ranging from $175,000 to $180,000. To qualify, applicants must have household incomes less than 125% of the local median.

  • Rep. Figures announced the $2.5 million in federal funding on February 6, 2026.
  • The Africatown Redevelopment Corp. has built 8 new homes in the past 1.5 years and plans to break ground on 2 more soon.
  • An open house for one of the new "wide house" model homes is scheduled for this Saturday.

The players

Rep. Shomari Figures

U.S. Representative for Alabama's 1st congressional district, a Democrat who secured the $2.5 million in federal funding for affordable housing in Africatown.

Africatown Redevelopment Corp.

A nonprofit organization leading the affordable housing development efforts in Africatown, including building new homes and rehabilitating historic properties.

Karlos Finley

Executive director of the Africatown Redevelopment Corp.

Rusty Smith

Associate director of Auburn University's Rural Studio, which is partnering with the Africatown Redevelopment Corp. on home design.

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What they’re saying

“Hopefully this is just a drop in the bucket, just a first step, in making good on that promise, and showing people here – not just in Africatown, but across Mobile County and across this region – that this is something that matters to us.”

— Rep. Shomari Figures

“We've not cut corners on this, guys. These are forever homes. That's why our program is called the Africatown Forever Home program.”

— Karlos Finley, Executive Director, Africatown Redevelopment Corp.

“Our work here is not just about building houses that cost less. It's about asking these homes to do more and to afford more.”

— Rusty Smith, Associate Director, Auburn University Rural Studio

What’s next

The Africatown Redevelopment Corp. plans to break ground on two more new homes in the near future as part of its affordable housing initiative.

The takeaway

This federal funding represents a significant investment in revitalizing the historic Africatown community through quality, affordable housing development. By preserving the unique architectural and cultural heritage of the neighborhood, the new and rehabilitated homes will help ensure Africatown remains a vibrant, livable community for generations to come.