Techie Homes founder Booker T. Washington joined News & Talk 1380 WAOK to discuss how his company is redefining affordable housing in Georgia and beyond through micro home communities and a nationwide holiday home giveaway.
Mr. Washington, whose company is valued at $60 million, said his mission stems from his own experiences growing up in southwest Atlanta without access to property ownership. Techie Homes focuses on building micro home communities that offer affordable, sustainable housing options while helping more people, especially in Black and brown communities become homeowners.
Through his company and its nonprofit arm, the Booker T. Project, Mr. Washington is launching the national “Home for the Holidays” raffle this November. The campaign will give one winner a fully furnished, smart-enabled home in the Union Park Cottages community in Union City, Georgia. Tickets cost $250, and the winner will receive the home, valued at $250,000 on Christmas Day, free and clear of any debt.
“This isn’t just a raffle, it’s a way to make homeownership accessible while funding programs that help others achieve the same dream,” Mr. Washington said. Proceeds will support the organization’s down payment assistance and homeowner education programs, designed to reduce dependence on government-funded initiatives.
Union Park Cottages, described as America’s first mixed-use micro home community, includes shared spaces such as a coffee shop, tech lab, dog parks, gardens, and walking trails. Each home ranges from 400 to 1,000 square feet and features standard-sized appliances and modern finishes. Mr. Washington said the communities are ideal for single parents, small families, and retirees looking to downsize without losing the sense of neighborhood connection.
“A micro home isn’t about living small, it’s about living smarter,” Mr. Washington explained. “You get affordability, community, and equity that grows over time.”
Mr. Washington emphasized that micro homes present an alternative to high rents and shrinking homeownership rates among African Americans. He noted that many families spend more than half their income on housing, while other demographic groups spend significantly less.
Techie Homes, now the largest builder of micro and cottage homes in Georgia and the sixth largest in the U.S., has completed two major developments: South Park Cottages in College Park and Union Park Cottages in Union City. The company’s first community, South Park, was crowdfunded with more than $3.5 million from local investors.
Beyond home construction, Mr. Washington said Techie Homes aims to build economic empowerment. Homeownership, he noted, provides leverage for future investments, business creation, and wealth building, particularly for entrepreneurs who often lack access to capital.
To listen to the full interview, click the link above.