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Atlanta officials commit $2 million more to city’s eviction diversion program – WSB-TV Channel 2

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ATLANTA — Atlanta’s eviction diversion program is receiving an additional $2 million in funding after its successful launch in December.

According to the mayor’s office, the Atlanta City Council approved legislation to increase funding for the program, with Councilwoman Andrea L. Boone sponsoring the legislation on behalf of Mayor Andre Dickens’ administration.

Now, the nonprofit Star C Corporation will receive $2 million to help low-income Atlanta families at risk of eviction and displacement.

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“Atlanta families are feeling the brunt of rising housing costs, especially those in low-income and underserved communities. When you’re already struggling financially, all it takes is one bad day or serious medical emergency to find yourself unable to pay your rent or mortgage,” Dickens said in a statement. “In just a few months, we’ve seen hundreds of families benefit from the Eviction Prevention Program, and hundreds more have applied and are waiting for help. With the City Council’s support for these efforts today, we’re now able to help even more families avoid worst-case scenarios and maintain the stability that housing provides for them and our community.”

The city said that since the program began, “Star-C has prevented the displacement of more than 220 families. More than 500 additional households have already applied for assistance through this program.”

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When it launched in December, the program was budgeted at $2 million. Since its inception, it has spent $1.56 million to operate.

The mayor’s office said the additional $2 million will help Atlanta keep families in their homes and prevent them from becoming homeless.

Reiterating his commitment not to treat the homeless as criminals, Dickens said in a statement that he and the city have “charted a multi-year path to provide safe, secure and affordable housing for all Atlantans,” even after last week’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that “cities can criminalize people experiencing homelessness.”

As previously stated by News on channel 2After the Supreme Court decision was made public, Dickens spoke out strongly against the idea of ​​criminalizing the homeless.

Dickens said Channel 2’s Tom Jones Dickens said financial hardship is not a crime, and that since he took office, the city has humanely relocated hundreds of people from encampments to places like the Ralph David House. Those people are now regaining their independence.

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