The Atlanta Police Foundation and the Atlanta Police Department will celebrate the completion of five officer homes on the Westside in a ribbon cutting ceremony.

The ribbon cutting will take place at 10 a.m. Friday, October 21, at 81 James P. Brawley on the Westside.

These homes are the first five of 20-25 homes the police foundation has pledged to build for police officers by 2020 as part of their Westside Security Plan, according to a news release from the foundation. The homes allow officers to buy homes and live in strategic neighborhoods throughout the City of Atlanta to help increase police visibility and enhance engagement between the Atlanta Police Department and the residents.

The foundation is partnering with local builders and contractors to build the homes. Groups such as the Arthur M. Blank Foundation, PulteGroup, Atlanta Housing Authority, City of Atlanta, and Vine City Civic Association are also partnering in the effort.

The neighborhoods are selection based on three criteria:

1. Areas with the highest need and probability of successful stabilization, as determined by crime statistics, along with, the level of community presence and engagement.
2. The availability to acquire and redevelop abandoned, foreclosed and vacant properties that might otherwise become sources of blight in neighborhoods.
3. The presence of community stakeholders willing to collaborate to increase police presence in their respective neighborhoods

The Atlanta Police Foundation provides a $500 per month stipend to officers who live and serve in the community for at least five years. The officers serve in as community ambassadors, engaging the neighborhood members in public safety initiatives.