Augusta is in line to receive housing vouchers paid for with money from the American Rescue Plan.
Georgia Senators Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA) announced nearly $18.5 million will come to Georgia for emergency housing vouchers.
The funds, through the Department of Housing and Urban Development, can be used by people who are homeless, in danger of becoming homeless or trying to escape an unsafe or abusive living situation.
MORE: The Next Steps in Tackling Homelessness in Augusta
The Augusta Housing Authority will get 61 vouchers, worth more than $724,000. They will be available beginning in July.
Danielle Harris, public information manager for Administrator Odie Donald said, “The allocation of these vouchers to Augusta will provide an opportunity for residents experiencing homelessness with high barriers to housing to achieve long-term, permanent housing opportunities.”
She added, “At full utilization, these 61 vouchers have the ability to impact more than one in 10 of the residents identified to be experiencing homelessness in Augusta’s last Point in Time Count.”
Harris said these vouchers are similar to the Housing Choice Vouchers, also known as Section 8. The vouchers will be used to pay the cost of rent for residents in privately-owned rental properties.
[adrotate banner=”54″]
People who need a voucher must first contact the Marion Barnes Intake Center which provides referrals for homeless clients. If the person meets the eligibility criteria, they are then referred to the Augusta Housing Authority.
HUD requires the vouchers be used for the hardest to serve households in each community.
The vouchers can also be used by someone trying to escape an unsafe or abusive living situation.
Aimee Hall, executive director of SafeHomes of Augusta said they are waiting for additional information to determine how the vouchers may be able to work with their program.
MORE: Educating Students Who Are Dealing with Homelessness
“It may cover housing; it may cover arrears; it may cover transportation. All that is still up in the air,” she said. “Once we know a definite of what these vouchers can assist with then we’ll better know how we can utilize them.”
Hall said anyone in a domestic violence situation should call SafeHomes and let them do an assessment of the situation. They then work with the client to determine the best way the get the client into a safe environment.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com.
[adrotate banner=”44″]
