Georgia CommonsHB 689: Housing; establish a homelessness prevention program
Last action March 31, 2026 · Senate Tabled
A Georgia House bill would create a new homelessness prevention program funded through the state's existing housing trust fund, letting nonprofits, legal aid groups, and local agencies apply for money to help low-income Georgians avoid eviction.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Comm Sub version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
Georgia already has a housing trust fund for the homeless (O.C.G.A. Title 8, Chapter 3) that pays for residential housing projects and stable housing accountability programs. This bill adds a third category: homelessness prevention programs. These programs would focus on keeping low-income people housed and avoiding evictions, rather than building housing directly. The bill directs the state housing commission to create an application process, publish minimum statewide standards, and set criteria for approving applicants, such as how many people would be helped and how well-distributed programs are geographically. It broadens who counts as a qualified sponsor to include legal aid groups, mediation providers, and coalitions running unified intake portals for rental assistance. Before any money goes out, a sponsor must sign a contract with the commission and provide financial assurances. The bill also lets the commission accept federal funds and private donations for these programs.
What the bill does
- Creates a new 'homelessness prevention program' category eligible for money from Georgia's housing trust fund for the homeless.
- Expands the definition of 'qualified sponsor' to include legal aid groups, eviction mediation providers, and coalitions running unified rental assistance intake portals.
- Requires the state housing commission to publish an application process, statewide minimum standards, and approval criteria for these programs on its website.
- Requires a signed contract and financial assurances from a sponsor before the commission disburses any trust fund money.
- Allows the commission to accept federal funds, state appropriations, and private donations specifically for homelessness prevention programs.
Who it affects
Low-income Georgians facing eviction or housing instability, nonprofit and legal aid organizations that serve them, local housing authorities and urban residential finance authorities, mediation service providers, and the state housing commission that administers the trust fund.
Why it matters
Georgians at risk of losing housing could gain access to short-term rental assistance, legal representation in eviction cases, and mediation services funded through the state, while organizations serving them would have a new, defined path to apply for state trust fund money to run these efforts.
Key provisions
- Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 8-3-301 to define 'homelessness prevention program' and expand the list of qualified sponsors to include legal aid agencies, mediation providers, and unified-intake coalitions.
- Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. § 8-3-308 to add homelessness prevention programs to the types of applications the commission accepts for trust fund disbursements.
- Section 3 amends O.C.G.A. § 8-3-309 to let the commission accept federal funds, appropriations, and private donations for homelessness prevention programs.
- Section 4 adds new Code Section 8-3-311.1, requiring the commission to create an application process, publish minimum standards, set approval criteria, and require signed contracts with financial assurances before disbursing funds.
- Section 5 amends O.C.G.A. § 8-3-313 to let the commission hold title to property financed under a homelessness prevention program.
- Section 6 repeals conflicting laws.
From the bill
“'Homelessness prevention program' means a program that: (A) Aims to prevent homelessness, support housing stability among low-income persons, and avoid evictions for low-income persons”
“No funds shall be disbursed to a qualified sponsor until a contract is signed for the provision of the approved homelessness prevention program.”
Status timeline
- Senate Tabled (Senate)
- Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- House Passed/Adopted (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
Show full history (12 actions)
- House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Kasey Carpenter (R, HD-004)
- Lisa Campbell (D, HD-035)
- Scott Hilton (R, HD-048)
- William Werkheiser (R, HD-157)
- Spencer Frye (D, HD-122)
- Mary Oliver (D, HD-084)
- Jason T. Dickerson (R, SD-021)
Votes
- House voteFebruary 25, 2026
148 yea, 11 nay (13 not voting, 5 absent)
- Senate voteMarch 31, 2026
39 yea, 10 nay (2 not voting, 3 absent)
Topics
- homelessness prevention
- housing trust fund
- eviction assistance
- affordable housing
- legal aid