The COVID-19 pandemic left thousands of Georgians without jobs and struggling to pay rent. In March, the federal government handed the state $552 million to fund a rental assistance program aimed at helping local tenants and landlords get back on their feet.

Eight months later, the state agency leading the program has paid out only $57 million in rent payments to Georgia applicants – a 10% clearance rate. Meanwhile, the state has spent more than $11 million on administrative costs to run the program, rounding out to roughly $1,000 needed spent on in-house costs for every average $6,300 payment.

Many other states like North Carolina have rolled out far more rent-assistance dollars to their residents, prompting frustration over the program’s slow pace from Georgia residents, housing advocates and some state lawmakers from both sides of the aisle.

For this story, State Affairs dug into payment data and spoke with housing advocates, local government officials and former temporary state staff to drill down the causes behind why Georgia’s rental assistance program has lagged.

Our Story

Part I: Falling Behind on Rent

Sade Braden has six kids, works two jobs and is about to be evicted from her metro Atlanta apartment. Nearly five months after applying for rental assistance, Braden still hasn’t heard from either the state, city or county officials whom she reached out to for help.