At the heart of House Proud’s mission to empower Atlanta’s legacy homeowners is Lisa Flowers Jones, the organization’s dedicated Executive Director. With a passion for social justice and community advocacy, Lisa has transformed the way House Proud serves its clients, ensuring that vulnerable homeowners receive the support they need to maintain their dignity and pride in their homes.
Lisa boasts extensive experience in the nonprofit sector, having worked for more than 27 years in various roles related to youth, housing and human services. In 2004, Lisa joined the Atlanta Community ToolBank as the Home Repair Program Manager, where she rediscovered the value of community-based initiatives that improve the lives of low-income senior and veteran homeowners. While working with ToolBank, Lisa assisted thousands of senior and legacy homeowners in receiving critical, no-cost repairs to keep them ‘warm, safe and dry’ in their homes.
In 2011, Lisa played a pivotal role in transitioning the Home Repair Program of the ToolBank into a standalone nonprofit organization, which became House Proud Atlanta in January 2012. Since that time, House Proud has grown from a nonprofit with $50,000 in revenue, to one that is set to hit the $2.6million mark in 2025 serving both Georgia and Alabama.
Lisa has led House Proud Atlanta as its Executive Director, increasing its impact fourfold and elevating its national profile through media appearances and articles in publications like Woman’s Day and Redbook. She also discussed gentrification’s effect on legacy homeowner’s during her appearance on the Kelly Clarkson show.
As the city changes, House Proud is committed to evolving to meet the needs of vulnerable homeowners. Lisa’s vision to protect every legacy homeowner in Atlanta is coming to fruition, as she and her team launch Be Neighborly – a movement to protect and educate low-income senior homeowners. Through this unique initiative, House Proud galvanizes other nonprofits for a series of housing fairs designed to educate seniors on housing issues such as code enforcement, investor scams, homestead exemption, property insurance and more. Each month House Proud will also work alongside the Office of Public Defender’s to provide legal clinics for seniors who are facing code violation issues. Under her leadership, House Proud is positioned to provide no-cost repairs for at least 300 seniors and vets in Atlanta, 50 in Birmingham Alabama and educate another 400 on housing issues through partnerships in 2025.
In her off time, Lisa stays busy raising her two sons and volunteering for other veteran serving organizations while helping seniors with their food insecurity from her personal funds. She also teaches small nonprofits how to scale and attract additional funding. Her passion for seniors and veterans is a result of being raised by veteran and senior parents who instilled the importance of giving back and taking care of your neighbors.
Lisa’s leadership has been instrumental in House Proud’s success, as she continues to steer the organization towards its ultimate goal of expanding its unique model throughout the country. Under her guidance, House Proud has begun its nationwide expansion.
Her empathetic approach not only resonates with clients but also inspires her team. Lisa fosters an inclusive environment where staff and volunteers feel valued and motivated to make a difference. She often emphasizes the importance of connection, stating, “We’re not just repairing homes; we’re preserving legacies and building community.”
As House Proud continues to navigate the evolving landscape of Atlanta’s neighborhoods, Lisa remains a steadfast champion for those at risk of losing their homes. Her vision for a future where everyone can age in place with dignity is not just an aspiration but a driving force behind all of House Proud’s initiatives. House Proud is not only transforming homes but also uplifting the spirits of those who have shaped the fabric of Atlanta’s communities. Lisa’s dedication is a testament to the profound impact one leader can have in the fight for equity and justice.
