Several local nonprofits are partnering with DeKalb County government on a new initiative to help families stay in their own homes amid the growing nationwide housing crisis, officials said.
The initiative will provide $21 million for rental and utility assistance, job placement, training, mental health services, educational needs, food, child care and legal services for needy DeKalb County residents, according to a plan approved by the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 13.
The approved plan, called the DeKalb County Community Care Initiative, is also done in collaboration with the American Rescue Plan Program (HOME-ARP) approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). According to hud.gov, the HOME-ARP is a program administered by HUD that provides grants to eligible counties to reduce homelessness and increase housing stability.
Through the DeKalb County Community Care Initiative, payments for rent and utilities are made by various DeKalb County nonprofits, officials said.
“Additionally, case management will be provided to program participants to facilitate housing stability,” officials said. “As part of case management, participants will be assessed and, if eligible, referred to additional supportive services available under HOME-ARP.”
The DeKalb County Community Care Initiative will distribute $13 million to 10 nonprofit organizations, including:
• New Life Community Ministries, $2.9 million for rent and utilities
• Urban League of Greater Atlanta, $2.9 million for rent and utilities
• Latin American Association, $2 million for rent and utilities
• Atlanta Legal Aid Society, $600,000 for housing stability services
• Jewish Family Career Services of Atlanta, $1 million for rent and utilities
• New American Pathways, $1.04 million for rent and utilities
• Africa’s Children Fund, $1 million for rent and utilities
• Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, $1 million for rent and utilities
• DeKalb Pro Bono, $200,000 for housing stability services
• Paws Between Homes, $60,000 for housing stability services
A county press release also said $300,000 will be used for coordinated entry services once the initiative gets underway. Officials said DeKalb County Community Development has an additional $7.8 million in grant funds that will also be used for housing.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has created a housing affordability crisis in our county,” said CEO Michael Thurmond. “This multi-million dollar investment will protect families from eviction from their rental homes and apartments.”
The new initiative is the latest move by DeKalb County authorities to keep pace with rising rents and living costs. In 2021, authorities launched the Tenant-Landlord Assistance Coalition (TLAC), a rental relief program that provides financial assistance to eligible households to pay rent, rent arrears, utilities, utility arrears and other housing costs incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The remainder of those funds were used in 2023, with more than $53.7 million distributed for rent and utilities to more than 5,500 DeKalb families, authorities said.
According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s website, there is a shortage of affordable rental housing across Georgia for low-income households – families whose incomes are at or below the poverty line, or 30 percent of the median income in their area. Many of these households are severely cost-burdened, spending more than half their income on housing, the website says.
For more information, visit dekalbcountyga.gov.
