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Georgia Establishes Homelessness Prevention Program and Eviction Diversion Standards
Original title: Housing; establish a homelessness prevention program
Last action · March 31, 2026: Senate TabledSponsors: Kasey Carpenter and 6 others
Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law
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What This Bill Proposed
Georgia creates a statewide homelessness prevention program within the for the homeless to provide grants for short-term rental assistance, legal representation, and mediation services for low-income residents.
Why it matters
Low-income renters facing eviction gain access to state-funded legal aid, mediation, and emergency utility assistance through certified local sponsors.
Background
- The Georgia Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless is a state-administered fund designed to support housing projects and programs addressing homelessness. context
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Directly affected
Low-income persons
Low-income individuals gain access to short-term rental assistance, utility help, legal representation, and eviction mediation services.
Directly affected
Legal services agencies
Legal aid providers become eligible to apply for state trust fund grants to represent low-income individuals in dispossessory proceedings.
Directly affected
Landlords
Landlords participate in state-supported mediation assistance and eviction diversion programs alongside low-income tenants.
Key Facts
- The bill establishes a homelessness prevention program within the housing trust fund for the homeless to support housing stability and avoid evictions for low-income persons.
- Qualified sponsors eligible for program funding include legal services agencies, mediation providers, emergency rental assistance portals, and local housing authorities.
- The commission is authorized to accept federal funds, General Assembly appropriations, gifts, grants, and donations to finance homelessness prevention programs.
- Certified programs must deliver short-term rental and utility assistance, legal representation in dispossessory proceedings, or eviction diversion mediation.
Show all 6 facts
- Application approval criteria include the number of low-income persons served, the applicant's ability to leverage other funds, and geographic distribution.
- No funds may be disbursed to a qualified sponsor until a formal contract requiring financial assurance is signed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to apply for homelessness prevention program funding?
s include non-profit, for-profit, or governmental entities such as legal services agencies, mediation providers, emergency rental assistance portals, and local housing authorities.
What specific services can be funded under the new program?
Funded services include short-term emergency rental and utility assistance, legal representation in eviction proceedings, and landlord-tenant mediation through eviction diversion programs.
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Tabled in the Senate.
Procedural history
12 actions- Mar 31, 2026SenateSenate Tabled
- Mar 25, 2026SenateCommitteeSenate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
- Mar 25, 2026SenateSenate Read Second Time
- Feb 26, 2026SenateIntroducedSenate Read and Referred
- Feb 25, 2026HouseHouse Third Readers
- Feb 25, 2026HouseFloorHouse Passed/Adopted
Show 6 earlier actions
- Feb 19, 2026HouseCommitteeHouse Committee Favorably Reported
- Apr 4, 2025HouseHouse Withdrawn, Recommitted
- Mar 3, 2025HouseHouse Second Readers
- Mar 3, 2025HouseCommitteeHouse Committee Favorably Reported
- Feb 28, 2025HouseIntroducedHouse Hopper
- Feb 28, 2025HouseIntroducedHouse First Readers
Version history & redline
2 versions on fileComparing LC 60 0101/a → Sen Ctee Sub LC 60 0355S
removed addedOfficial text
removed: 25 added: 26 LC 60 removed: 0101
House Bill 689
By: Representatives Carpenter of the 4th , Campbell of the 35th , Hilton of the 48th , Werkheiser
of the 157th , Frye of added: 0355S
The Senate Committee on Government Oversight offered the removed: 122nd , and others
added: following
substitute to HB 689:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 5 of Chapter 3 of Title 8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
[…]
housing projects or stable housing accountability programs under Code Sections 8-3-310 and 8-3-311, and to establish criteria for selection of homelessness prevention programs. (c) removed: On or before January 1, 2026, the added: The commission shall develop an application process for qualified sponsors to apply for funding to operate a homelessness prevention program. (d) removed: On or before January 1, 2026, the added: The commission shall publish uniform state-wide minimum standards for a homelessness prevention program. At a minimum, to be certified as a homelessness prevention program, the
[…]
to deliver homelessness prevention services, short-term rental assistance, and eviction diversion programs for low-income persons, or provide one or more of the following services: removed: (A) added: (1) Delivering short-term emergency rental and utilities assistance to low-income persons; removed: (B) added: (2) Providing legal services in representing low-income persons in dispossessory proceedings; removed: (C) added: (3) Providing mediation assistance through an eviction diversion program to landlords and tenants who are low-income persons; removed: (D) added: (4) Operating a portal or single point of entry for receiving applications for short-term emergency rental assistance for low-income persons, determining eligibility, referring homeless or low-income persons to organizations providing assistance for which they are eligible, or providing direct assistance to such homeless or low-income persons; or removed: (E) added: (5) Such other purposes as the commission determines will further the goals of this program to prevent homelessness, support housing stability among low-income persons, and
[…]
and the qualified sponsor; and (6) Any and all other factors bearing upon the advisability and necessity of the proposed homelessness prevention program. (f) removed: On or before January 1, 2026, the added: The application process, minimum standards, approval criteria, and available funding for homelessness prevention programs shall be published and maintained on the website of the commission,
[…]
Redline computed from the official version text (record lane).View this version →
Voting Record
MOTION TO TABLE REMAINING LEGISLATION ON THE RULES CALENDAR
Total
54
- Yes
- 39
- No
- 10
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 2
- Abstain
- 0
- Other positions
- 3
How they voted (54)
Nan OrrockParty not recordedno
Gail DavenportParty not recordedyes
Russ GoodmanParty not recordedyes
Larry WalkerParty not recordedyes
Bill CowsertParty not recordedyes
Jason DickersonParty not recordedyes
Ed SetzlerParty not recordedyes
Bo HatchettParty not recordedyes
Steven McNeelParty not recordedyes
Donzella JamesParty not recordedexcused
Drew EcholsParty not recordedyes
Elena ParentParty not recordedyes
Nikki MerrittParty not recordedno
Kim JacksonParty not recordedyes
Chuck HufstetlerParty not recordedno
Frank GinnParty not recordedyes
Emanuel JonesParty not recordedexcused
Greg DolezalParty not recordedyes
RaShaun KempParty not recordedyes
Matt BrassParty not recordedno
Derek MallowParty not recordedyes
Billy HickmanParty not recordednot voting
Tonya AndersonParty not recordedno
Lee AndersonParty not recordedyes
30 more members
Steve GoochParty not recordedyes
Jason AnavitarteParty not recordedyes
Kenya WicksParty not recordedyes
Sheikh RahmanParty not recordedyes
Harold JonesParty not recordedyes
Max BurnsParty not recordedyes
Sally HarrellParty not recordedno
Ed HarbisonParty not recordedyes
Randy RobertsonParty not recordedyes
David LucasParty not recordedyes
Ben WatsonParty not recordedyes
Chuck PayneParty not recordedyes
Rick WilliamsParty not recordedyes
John AlbersParty not recordedyes
Randal ManghamParty not recordedyes
Sonya HalpernParty not recordedyes
Jaha HowardParty not recordedno
Brian StricklandParty not recordedyes
Mike HodgesParty not recordednot voting
Tim BeardenParty not recordedno
Carden SummersParty not recordedyes
Marty HarbinParty not recordedyes
Freddie Powell SimsParty not recordedexcused
Josh McLaurinParty not recordedno
Blake TilleryParty not recordedyes
Doc RhettParty not recordedno
Clint DixonParty not recordedyes
Shawn StillParty not recordedyes
Kay KirkpatrickParty not recordedyes
Sam WatsonParty not recordedyes
Show 1 earlier roll call
PASSAGE
Total
176
- Yes
- 147
- No
- 11
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 13
- Abstain
- 0
- Other positions
- 5
How they voted (176)
Robert DawsonParty not recordedyes
Katie DempseyParty not recordedyes
Park CannonParty not recordedexcused
Regina Lewis-WardParty not recordedyes
Karen LuptonParty not recordedyes
Brad ThomasParty not recordedyes
Bill FincherParty not recordedyes
Akbar AliParty not recordedyes
Angela MooreParty not recordedexcused
Tanya MillerParty not recordedyes
Johnny ChastainParty not recordedyes
Dale WashburnParty not recordedyes
Viola DavisParty not recordedyes
Chuck EfstrationParty not recordedyes
Matthew GambillParty not recordedno
Rob CliftonParty not recordedyes
Leesa HaganParty not recordedyes
Anne WestbrookParty not recordedyes
Patty Marie StinsonParty not recordedyes
El-Mahdi HollyParty not recordedyes
Lynn SmithParty not recordedyes
Bruce WilliamsonParty not recordednot voting
Nissa JonesParty not recordedyes
Terry CummingsParty not recordedyes
152 more members
Chas CannonParty not recordedyes
Gabe OkoyeParty not recordedyes
Will WadeParty not recordedno
Long TranParty not recordedyes
Imani BarnesParty not recordedyes
Matt HatchettParty not recordedyes
Billy MitchellParty not recordedyes
Scott HiltonParty not recordedyes
Gerald GreeneParty not recordedyes
Kasey CarpenterParty not recordedyes
Bill WerkheiserParty not recordedyes
David ClarkParty not recordedno
Deborah SilcoxParty not recordedyes
Ruwa RommanParty not recordednot voting
Derrick McCollumParty not recordedyes
Victor AndersonParty not recordedyes
Robert FlournoyParty not recordedyes
Jaclyn FordParty not recordedyes
Mark NewtonParty not recordedyes
Jesse PetreaParty not recordednot voting
Karen MathiakParty not recordedyes
Mike CameronParty not recordedyes
Shaw BlackmonParty not recordedyes
Sylvia Wayfer BakerParty not recordedyes
Debra BazemoreParty not recordedyes
Teddy ReeseParty not recordedyes
Dewey McClainParty not recordedyes
Lauren McDonaldParty not recordedyes
Bill HitchensParty not recordedyes
Charlice ByrdParty not recordedno
Tyler SmithParty not recordedyes
Jasmine ClarkParty not recordednot voting
Chuck MartinParty not recordedyes
Debbie BucknerParty not recordedyes
Mary Ann SantosParty not recordedyes
Kimberly NewParty not recordedyes
Joseph GullettParty not recordedno
Lee HawkinsParty not recordedyes
Butch ParrishParty not recordedyes
Rhonda TaylorParty not recordedyes
Carmen RiceParty not recordedyes
Steve TarvinParty not recordedno
Rey MartinezParty not recordedyes
Betsy HollandParty not recordedyes
Dar'shun KendrickParty not recordedyes
Sandra ScottParty not recordedyes
Bethany BallardParty not recordedyes
Clint CroweParty not recordedyes
Michael SmithParty not recordedexcused
Houston GainesParty not recordedyes
Matt ReevesParty not recordedyes
Ron StephensParty not recordedyes
Sandy DonatucciParty not recordedyes
Michelle AuParty not recordedyes
Steven MeeksParty not recordedyes
Mack JacksonParty not recordedyes
Solomon AdesanyaParty not recordedyes
Lydia GlaizeParty not recordedyes
Rob LeverettParty not recordedyes
John CorbettParty not recordedyes
Jutt HowardParty not recordedyes
Kimberly AlexanderParty not recordedyes
Eddie LumsdenParty not recordedyes
Gabriel SanchezParty not recordednot voting
Jon BurnsParty not recordednot voting
Stan GunterParty not recordednot voting
Al WilliamsParty not recordednot voting
Derrick JacksonParty not recordednot voting
Mekyah McQueenParty not recordedyes
David WilkersonParty not recordedyes
Sharon CooperParty not recordedyes
Floyd GriffinParty not recordedyes
Eric BellParty not recordednot voting
Alan PowellParty not recordedyes
Noelle KahaianParty not recordedno
Mitchell ScogginsParty not recordedyes
Bryce BerryParty not recordedyes
Martin MomtahanParty not recordedno
David HuddlestonParty not recordedyes
Omari CrawfordParty not recordedyes
Todd JonesParty not recordedyes
Inga WillisParty not recordedyes
Rick TownsendParty not recordedyes
Mike CheokasParty not recordedyes
Danny MathisParty not recordedyes
Saira DraperParty not recordedyes
John CarsonParty not recordedyes
Beth CampParty not recordedyes
Carl GilliardParty not recordedexcused
Soo HongParty not recordedyes
Matt BartonParty not recordedyes
Sheila JonesParty not recordedyes
Lisa CampbellParty not recordedyes
Spencer FryeParty not recordedyes
Devan SeabaughParty not recordedyes
Edna JacksonParty not recordedyes
Chris ErwinParty not recordedyes
Arlene BecklesParty not recordedyes
Esther PanitchParty not recordedyes
James BurchettParty not recordedyes
Shea RobertsParty not recordedyes
Scott HolcombParty not recordedyes
Trey KelleyParty not recordedno
Holt PersingerParty not recordedyes
Mitchell HornerParty not recordedno
Vance SmithParty not recordedyes
David JenkinsParty not recordedyes
Karlton HowardParty not recordedyes
Eric GislerParty not recordedyes
Carolyn HugleyParty not recordedyes
Noel WilliamsParty not recordedyes
Miriam ParisParty not recordedyes
Joe CampbellParty not recordedyes
L.C. MylesParty not recordedyes
Karla DrennerParty not recordedyes
Yasmin NealParty not recordedyes
Phil OlaleyeParty not recordedyes
Jason RidleyParty not recordednot voting
Brent CoxParty not recordedyes
David SampsonParty not recordedyes
Mary Frances WilliamsParty not recordedyes
Ginny EhrhartParty not recordedyes
Kim SchofieldParty not recordedyes
Don ParsonsParty not recordedyes
Steven SainzParty not recordedyes
Jordan RidleyParty not recordedexcused
Lehman FranklinParty not recordedyes
Tim FlemingParty not recordedyes
Matt DubnikParty not recordedyes
Rick JasperseParty not recordednot voting
John LaHoodParty not recordedyes
Robert DickeyParty not recordedyes
Marvin LimParty not recordedyes
Angie O'SteenParty not recordedyes
Emory DunahooParty not recordedno
Josh BonnerParty not recordedyes
Sam ParkParty not recordedyes
Doreen CarterParty not recordedyes
Rhonda BurnoughParty not recordedyes
Gary RichardsonParty not recordedyes
Segun AdeyinaParty not recordedyes
Brian PrinceParty not recordedyes
Darlene TaylorParty not recordedyes
Jan JonesParty not recordedyes
Tangie HerringParty not recordedyes
Stacey EvansParty not recordedyes
Buddy DeLoachParty not recordedyes
Bill YeartaParty not recordednot voting
Mary Margaret OliverParty not recordedyes
Trey RhodesParty not recordedyes
Demetrius DouglasParty not recordedyes
Carter BarrettParty not recordedyes
Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
policy shift95% confidence
Expansion of Trust Fund Scope
The legislation broadens the traditional housing trust fund mandate—previously restricted to capital housing projects and accountability programs—to include front-end homelessness prevention and eviction diversion services.
Connected Entities
OrganizationDepartment of Community Affairs“Hosts the website where commission application processes and standards must be p”Map →
Sources
Open source document
www.legis.ga.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
- Controversy20Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz35Current news / social attention level
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