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Residents urge county action as GEMA hotel program ends and senior housing grants lapse
Summary
Residents told commissioners that a GEMA housing program that placed storm-displaced families in hotels ends Sept. 29, leaving dozens of families without housing and straining local programs; speakers urged the board to work with partners to expand workforce and affordable housing.
Two residents used the public-comment period to press the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners on an emerging housing crisis after Hurricane Helene.
India Bell said her mother, a resident of Ashton Meadows, lost a senior-housing grant and now faces paying a balance on a fixed income; she asked whether county resources or referrals were available. The chairman offered to speak with Bell after the meeting and explore community agency options.
Kelly Saxon told the board that the GEMA housing program that placed dozens of Helene-displaced families in hotels will end Sept. 29. Saxon said the end of the program will leave people (including disabled residents and seniors on fixed incomes) without housing, cited hotel charges of about $1,100 per month, and asked how the county plans to respond to immediate needs and the larger shortage of affordable workforce housing. Saxon said local programs currently lack funding and cited "over 200 children in the homeless programs between the two school systems." Saxon urged the board to work with state and federal partners, nonprofits and developers on rental assistance, new construction or adaptive reuse of existing properties.
The record contains no board action on either request; commissioners acknowledged the comments and one offered to follow up with the resident after the meeting.
