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Committee backs bill to create homelessness-prevention program under DCA
Summary
The State Planning & Community Affairs committee voted to give House Bill 689 a "do pass" recommendation to establish a state-level homelessness-prevention grant program run by the Department of Community Affairs; any funding will require a separate appropriation.
On March 3, the State Planning & Community Affairs committee voted to give House Bill 689 a "do pass" recommendation, advancing legislation that would create a homelessness-prevention grant program administered by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA).
The bill, as described to the committee, would establish a statutory mechanism allowing the state to provide grants to local organizations to prevent evictions and keep people housed. Representative Carpenter (chairman) told the committee the measure is designed as a state counterpart to emergency rental assistance distributed with ARPA funds during the COVID-19 pandemic and would only be funded if lawmakers appropriate money for it.
Representative Carpenter said, "This program seeks to help as many as it can by providing state grants to local organizations throughout the state." He told members the proposal would "leverage local buy in" so grantees could combine private, local-government and state support and would include geographic distribution so one area would not control the majority of funds.
Carpenter cited federal emergency rental assistance activity from 2021–23, saying, "Emergency rental assistance has helped over 61,000 people remain in their homes between the years of '21 and '23." He also noted the ARPA-funded program that DCA has been running is set to run out in September and that this bill would create a state mechanism to continue similar work if the Legislature chooses to appropriate funds.
Committee members pressed for details about the program's scope and cost. Representative Jones asked whether people already experiencing homelessness would be eligible; Carpenter replied, "No. . . . this would be an eviction type, assistance program," saying the bill is intended to prevent people from becoming homeless rather than to serve those already homeless. Representative Barry asked if the bill would improve the distribution speed of the State Housing Trust Fund; Carpenter replied no, describing the proposal as a separate program to reach groups that do not qualify for current programs.
On expected cost, Representative Kahan asked for projections. Carpenter responded, "They're running through about $2,000,000 a month right now," and said the bill does not presume a specific appropriation; it would be up to the Appropriations Committee to decide whether and how much to fund the new program. He added lawmakers could fund an initial, smaller pilot amount to show success before seeking larger sums.
Members were also told the bill carries no fiscal note as written because it creates only the mechanism; any funding would require a separate appropriation and would be handled through DCA's line items. Carpenter said the program would allow DCA to accept any future federal funds as well, but that the state program would be distinct from existing state housing trust mechanisms.
After discussion, a member moved a "do pass" recommendation for House Bill 689 and a second was recorded. The committee approved the recommendation by voice vote; exact roll-call tallies were not specified in the transcript.
The bill now heads to further legislative consideration; if approved by the full Legislature, a separate appropriation would be required to actually distribute funds under the new program.
