One driver of this demand for housing – and the increasing rent prices that result from it – is the University of Georgia’s expanding student population. One key reason for this increase in homelessness is a lack of affordable housing as housing prices continue to rise in alignment with national trends and as demand for housing in Athens continues to increase. Because this is a number recorded from only one day, it is likely an underestimate of the true number of people experiencing homelessness. According to the 2022 Point In Time count, which records how many homeless individuals are in a town on a single night of the year, there were 283 people experiencing homelessness in Athens, which was the highest its been since at least 2015. Homelessness is also a prevalent issue in Athens, emphasizing the lack of land ownership in the town. While other factors contribute to poverty, residents being unable to own their home helps maintain and perpetuate the cycle of poverty. Athens-Clarke County has a poverty rate of 27%, which is among the highest in the state.
In a country where home and land ownership are crucial to acquiring wealth, the lack of ownership in Athens is a major concern and a driver of the high levels of poverty we see in town. Census, in 2022, 59.3% of housing in Athens was rented rather than occupied by owners. The Tree that Owns Itself being a property owner stands in stark contrast to the rest of Athens, where the housing market is dominated by real estate development companies, landlords and rentals.Īccording to the U.S. The property rights of the Tree that Owns Itself have never been questioned. The metal plaque quoting Colonel Jackson’s will is cleaned regularly to preserve it. George Foster Peabody paid to install fencing around the tree, further protecting it. The Junior Ladies Garden Club officially adopted the tree in the 1940s and continues to maintain its land. Great lengths have been taken by the residents of Athens to ensure the safety and property rights of the Tree that Owns Itself. The current tree is a descendent of the original, planted and grown from acorns of the original tree by the Junior Ladies Garden Club of Athens. Today, a new tree is in its place after the original blew down in 1942. The tree inherited ownership of itself and the eight-feet of land surrounding it. Colonel Jackson loved the tree so much that he wanted to ensure it would never be removed from its place on Dearing and Finley. According to local legend, the white oak was granted property rights in the will of Colonel William H. The Tree that Owns Itself is one of Athens, Georgia’s most iconic landmarks.
Written by Sydney Leiter and Kanchana Balasubramanian
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