ATLANTA — The pause on evictions put in place during the pandemic ended just weeks ago and thousands of Atlanta residents could soon face homelessness. City and community leaders are working around the clock on a new program to help those facing the unimaginable.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens announced new programs and policies earlier this month that will provide housing assistance. One of the goals is to also ensure public agencies subsidizing affordable housing provide heightened tenant protections.
Included in the resolution was a donation to nonprofit Star-C to launch and distribute $2 million in eviction prevention funding and financial assistance for low-income households at risk of displacement.
“At it’s most basic level, this program is a homeless prevention program," explained Star-C's executive director Audrea Rease.
The eviction prevention initiative will prioritize aid for three demographics:
- residents over the age of 65
- single-parent households with children in Atlanta Public Schools
- households composed of renters under the age of 25
“There are thousands upon thousands of evictions that are on the books right now and more are being found every day," Rease added.
The program is part of a multi-faceted approach by the city to tackle the current housing crisis. Other agencies including Atlanta Legal Aid and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs are a part of the resolution that is expected to be approved on Monday.
"As they say, it takes a village," Rease said.
Organizers said the eviction relief program should be open to applicants shortly after Monday's vote.