DeKalb commissioners approve county share of $155 million housing bond; shelters and wraparound services expanding

Commissioner Shakira Johnson (District 4) told attendees at a July Community Connections meeting that the board and Decide DeKalb have approved the county’s portion of a housing bond package that could total $155,000,000. She said the program would include nine initiatives, with down‑payment assistance, home‑rehab funds for long‑term owners, revolving loans for construction and multifamily support among the planned elements.“We both approved our piece of the housing fund with, bond referendum that our director of housing will be putting forward a total of a $155,000,000 bond program,” Johnson said during her midterm update.

Johnson also outlined steps to address homelessness, saying the county recently opened a day shelter at New Life in South DeKalb and is working with St. Vincent de Paul to open a North DeKalb day shelter. She emphasized that the county has begun funding shelter and wraparound services from the general fund — not solely federal grants — to allow broader, ongoing support for residents transitioning out of motels or encampments.

Why it matters: The bond program and the move to general‑fund support mark a shift toward locally funded housing and homeless‑services tools. Johnson said those resources should enable longer-term support for residents who need rehabilitation assistance or permanent housing placements. Next steps: Johnson said the housing director will present the bond details and the board expects to take bond‑related actions toward the end of August, with some programs launching in late fall.