HB 689: Housing; establish a homelessness prevention program

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.

• 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.

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.

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.

• 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.

1. 2026-03-31Senate Tabled (Senado)
2. 2026-03-25Senate Read Second Time (Senado)
3. 2026-03-25Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senado)
4. 2026-02-26Senate Read and Referred (Senado)
5. 2026-02-25House Passed/Adopted (Cámara de Representantes)
6. 2026-02-25House Third Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
7. 2026-02-19House Committee Favorably Reported (Cámara de Representantes)
8. 2025-04-04House Withdrawn, Recommitted (Cámara de Representantes)

• Kasey Carpenter (R, HD-004)Patrocinador principal
• 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)

1. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes25 de febrero de 2026

   148 a favor, 11 en contra (13 sin votar, 5 ausentes)

   Passage: House Vote #554

2. AprobadaVotación: Senado31 de marzo de 2026

   39 a favor, 10 en contra (2 sin votar, 3 ausentes)

   Motion To Table Remaining Legislation On The Rules Calendar: Senate Vote #912

• homelessness prevention
• housing trust fund
• eviction assistance
• affordable housing
• legal aid