Programs

  • Program 1 [2020]

    2020 General OperationsDue to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Georgia ACT assumed virtual operations, effective March 15th. In spite of this change in operations, Georgia ACT sponsored several events through our virtual platforms and completed several key operational tasks. February Annual Housing Day at the Capitol March First Virtual Annual Membership Meeting October First Virtual Annual Fall Affordable Housing Conference (in collaboration with nine state partners and NACEDA) November Virtual Post-Election Day Webinar Began Strategic Planning Process (est. completion: 1st Qtr 2021) Began Bylaw Revisions (est. completion: 1st Qtr 2021) Current Membership: 56Notable 2020 Legislation and Activities HB 969 Amends the Fair Housing Act to secure HUD Fair Housing Act Certification (Rep. Chuck Efstration).Provides conforming amendments to Georgias Fair Housing Act in order to restore HUD Fair Housing Act Program certification to the state in compliance with requirements of existing Georgia law, and allow Georgia to receive federal funds to investigate and process fair housing discrimination complaints. Status: Passed, signed by the Governor. Georgia ACT and other partners were recognized on the Chamber floor for its advocacy for this bill. HB 1167 Community Land Trust Homestead Eligibility (Rep. Park Cannon). Local Atlanta legislation that passed in 2019 extending residential homestead exemptions to persons holding property under a Community Land Trust. Atlanta referendum required by November 2022. Status: Passed, signed by the Governor. The Atlanta City Council approved an ordinance prohibiting landlords from refusing to rent or sell a home based on the applicants source of income, including denying the acceptance of government vouchers (Legislative Reference No. 20-O-1155). The legislation was approved by a vote of 13-2. Bambie Hayes-Brown testified in support of this ordinance before the Atlanta Executive and Finance Committees. Beginning in April 2020 and in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Georgia ACT applied for and received funds to provide statewide rental assistance. We also received funds from Atlanta regional funders to provide rental assistance to the 15-county Metro Atlanta area. Georgia ACT has provided rental assistance for 109 households, including a pilot program with the Clayton County Magistrate Court and Hearts to Nourish Hope Home Preservation Program. Received a grant from Black Voters Matter to provide statewide utility assistance for 25 households. Georgia ACT was awarded a grant in November 2019 from Our Homes, Our Votes to conduct voter engagement activities in Georgia. Georgia ACT partnered with several groups, including Urban, Suburban, and Rural NAACP branches, fraternity and sorority organizations, faith-based institutions, HUD-approved housing counseling agencies and rural municipal government agencies. Activities included census engagement, nonpartisan virtual candidate forums, phone and text banking, Get Out the Vote rallies throughout the state, presentations during homebuyer education workshops, voter registration drives (including drive-throughs at McDonalds), two billboards, providing snacks and food for people in line to vote and poll workers, and rides to the polls. Established the Everyone Deserves A Place to Call Home statewide housing policy platform. For more information: https://georgiaact.org/everyone-deserves-a-place-to-call-home/ Distributed 1,050 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Kits to communities low-income communities of color. Co-Hosted a nonpartisan South- and South-Central Georgia 66 county tour with FRESH Communities and Black Voters Matter for the U.S. Senate and the Georgia Public Service Commission Run-Off reaching 240,000 Georgia residents in-person and signage outreach was over 500,000 Georgians. Georgia ACT was named business of the month by Clayton County Commissioner Felicia Franklin-Warner.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $343.6K

  • Affordable Housing Advocacy

    GEORGIA ACT WAS THE "GO TO" AGENCY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND EQUITABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT POLICY EXPERTISE IN GEORGIA. APPROXIMATELY 73% OF THE OPERATING BUDGET WAS USED FOR PROGRAMMING AND ADVOCACY *ASSISTED IN DRAFTING THE FEDERAL EVICTION CRISIS ACT LEGISLATION AND FEDERAL TENANT BILL OF RIGHTS *SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED THE GEORGIA ACT BUISNESS DEVELOPMENT SERIES *CONDUCTED NUMBEROUS MEDIA APPEARANCES/ARTICLES TO BRING AWARENESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING (WALB, FOX 5 SAPORTA REPORT, AJC, SHELTERFORCE, CAPITOL BEAT, RAINBOW PUSH COALITION AND URBAN LEAGUE OF GREATER ATLANTA) *CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH CLAYTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS A COMMUNITY PARTNER; CONTINUED ADVOCACY ON THE LOCA, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVELS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND EQUITABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND MUNICPAL USE OF ARPA FUNDS; COMPLETED HOUSEATL POLICY WORKING GROUP STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSIONS *PARTICIPATED IN VARIOUS COMMUNITY OUTREACH INITIATIVES; NONPARTISAN VOTER ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVES WITH NOPROFIT VOTE; COMPLETED NLIHC INAUGURAL TENANT COHORT *DESIGNED NCRP-FORD FOUNDATION BLACK-LED NOPROFIT INCUBATOR; ATTENDED VARIOUS CONFERENCES AND TOWN HALLS PARTICIPATED IN VARIOUS SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2022
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $193K