Advocates seek $25 million in state funding to continue emergency rental assistance pilot

A coalition of housing and legal-aid organizations told the House appropriations subcommittee they support a $25 million state appropriation to continue an emergency rental assistance pilot run by the Department of Community Affairs.

Speakers described the program as short-term rental assistance for households facing an immediate financial shock — not a permanent rent subsidy. The DCA pilot used the final $55 million of federal COVID-era emergency rental assistance to contract with Atlanta Legal Aid Society and Georgia Legal Services to provide legal services and navigators, and allocated $2 million per month to pay eligible short-term rental assistance.

Advocates told the committee that overburdened households lacking savings face eviction after short shocks and that one eviction costs local communities roughly $11,200 in emergency shelter, child welfare and medical costs. They cited research linking eviction to worse birth outcomes and long-term consequences for children. The coalition argued a $25 million state investment would preserve a cost-effective prevention program and help avert higher social service and health-care costs associated with evictions.

Advocates said the pilot’s federal funds will be exhausted in September and urged action to avoid a funding gap. They provided the committee with a list of supporting organizations and offered to provide additional data if the committee requested it.