FreeRentATL TO GIVE AWAY FREE RENT FOR A YEAR TO 25 ATLANTANS
When Daniel and Larry Dorfman along with Scott Jacobsen launched their real estate investment trust (REIT), Roots, they set out to revolutionize the “tenant-landlord” relationships by being the only real estate fund that builds wealth for both its investors and renters alike. Since 2021, Roots has secured $30 million in investment while providing significant returns to both its residents and investors. Still, they could see Atlanta’s wealth gap widening in hand with its affordable housing crisis, and they knew they could do more. So they formed FreeRentATL and its 501(c)3 non-profit, The Roots Community Assistance Fund, to bridge the gap.
“When Atlantans are paying 42% of their income to rent, they could be just one crisis away from homelessness” said Daniel Dorfman. “It’s not sustainable, and we are committed to making a difference by providing a leg up with housing to those who need it the most.”
FreeRentATL imagines a city where everyone has their basic housing needs met. In its first year, they had planned to pay rent for three Atlantans. But the outpouring of applications was so big that they extended the opportunity to seven Atlantans in need, helping them to stay on their feet and in their homes, while providing wraparound services, like food, clothes, coaching and financial education. This year, FreeRentATL is more than tripling that with a vision to take the burden of rent from 25 Atlantans for an entire year.
On Friday, September 13, FreeRentATL will kick off the N.E.W. Charity Weekend, including a Friday night concert at Monday Night Garage featuring The New Orleans Suspects & River Eckhert. And on Saturday, September 14, supporters can play in the annual golf tournament at City Club Marietta. The event is named in honor of Nicholas Evans Wadley. Click here for tickets and more information.
“We want the community to come out for a great weekend of festivities, while also realizing that they’re partying for a great cause,” said Larry Dorfman. “We hope that everyone can see that they can be a part of making a positive change in their neighbors’ lives.”
About Roots:
Roots is an Atlanta-based real estate investment company dedicated to providing universal access to invest in real estate, even the renters who live in their buildings. Its “Live in it Like You Own it®” proprietary program is a partnership with its residents to take care of their properties and pay rent on time in exchange for rebates and bonuses that get invested into the fund. Recognized as a 2024 Pacesetter by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Roots has homed more than 200 families and aims to grow real estate investment opportunities for one million renting families by 2028.
Since its founding in 2021, Roots has secured $30 million in investment Anyone, including non-accredited investors, can invest as little as $100 and as much as $3M in the Roots REIT with only a $5 transaction fee to get started and quarterly distribution of profits. Through incentives and investment in the Roots REIT, residents can grow their wealth by up to $10,000 in five years.