Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff secured more than $170 million in federal housing investments for Georgia through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Planning and Development grant programs
Since joining the Senate, Sens. Warnock and Ossoff have been working to address Georgia’s affordable housing crisis
Investments will flow to 27 localities across the state, bringing more affordable housing options to Georgians of all income levels
ICYMI, in December: Senators Warnock and Ossoff secured funding to upgrade affordable housing for low-income Georgians in rural areas
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Jon Ossoff (D-GA) announced that they secured more than $170 million in federal housing investments for Georgia through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Planning and Development (CPD) grant programs. These investments will flow to 27 localities across the state, helping bring more affordable housing options for Georgians of all income levels.
“Housing is stability. Housing is dignity. Housing is critical infrastructure,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “These robust federal investments in our state’s housing infrastructure will make it more affordable for hardworking Georgians at every income bracket to find better, more cost-effective housing. These investments will help elevate families into the working and middle class and keep costs down, ensuring every Georgian can get their slice of the American Dream. Housing is the foundation that helps people support their families and contribute to their economies. I’m so glad we were able to secure these investments for Georgians.”
“Housing is too expensive. Building new affordable housing will reduce financial stress on renters and homebuyers,” Sen. Ossoff said.
Since joining the Senate, Sens. Warnock and Ossoff have worked to address Georgia’s affordable housing crisis. In December 2021, Senators Warnock and Ossoff secured funding to upgrade affordable housing for low-income Georgians in rural areas.
Strengthening access to affordable housing and eliminating barriers to home ownership are top priorities for Sens. Warnock and Ossoff. In September 2021, Sen. Warnock introduced the Downpayment Toward Equity Act to provide Federal grants to aid first-generation homebuyers. In August, 2021 Sen. Ossoff secured commitments from three top Biden Administration nominees to join officials and community leaders across Georgia to address the shortage of affordable housing.
Additionally, both senators have worked to secure major funding for investments in affordable housing and emergency housing vouchers for Georgians.
A table and explainer of the $171,631,995 in federal investments can be found below:
| NAME | CDBG | HOME | ESG | HOPWA | HTF |
| State of Georgia | $41,685,004 | $25,295,958 | $4,792,637 | $5,811,279 | $19,218,923 |
| Albany | $810,072 | $535,447 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Athens-Clarke County | $1,303,091 | $858,935 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Atlanta | $7,004,069 | $2,515,212 | $595,555 | $12,997,884 | $0 |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $1,725,408 | $1,083,350 | $152,110 | $910,893 | $0 |
| Brookhaven | $336,993 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Brunswick | $387,971 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Columbus | $1,633,453 | $1,072,086 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Dalton | $355,519 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Gainesville | $466,178 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Hinesville | $264,866 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Macon | $1,814,236 | $928,940 | $159,534 | $0 | $0 |
| Marietta | $446,116 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Rome | $452,997 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Roswell | $449,653 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Sandy Springs City | $550,054 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Savannah | $2,217,957 | $919,718 | $196,710 | $0 | $0 |
| South Fulton | $466,408 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Valdosta | $647,095 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Warner Robins | $604,086 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Cherokee County | $1,176,067 | $531,600 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Clayton County | $2,375,419 | $1,225,303 | $209,348 | $0 | $0 |
| Cobb County | $3,473,537 | $1,672,515 | $278,271 | $0 | $0 |
| De Kalb County | $4,492,458 | $2,387,400 | $407,414 | $0 | $0 |
| Fulton County | $1,382,965 | $736,244 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Gwinnett County | $5,240,928 | $2,352,323 | $468,560 | $0 | $0 |
| Henry County | $1,042,369 | $512,877 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program provides annual grants on a formula basis to states, cities, and counties to develop viable urban and rural communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons.
HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME)
The HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) provides formula grants to states and localities that communities use – often in partnership with local nonprofit groups – to fund a wide range of activities including building, buying, and/or rehabilitating affordable housing for rent or homeownership or providing direct rental assistance to low-income people. HOME is the largest federal block grant to state and local governments designed exclusively to create affordable housing for low-income households. HOME funds are awarded annually as formula grants to participating jurisdictions (PJs). The program’s flexibility allows states and local governments to use HOME funds for grants, direct loans, loan guarantees or other forms of credit enhancements, or rental assistance or security deposits.
Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG)
The ESG program provides the first response to people with a housing crisis and engages people living on the streets. ESG awards funds to over 360 urban counties, metropolitan cities, States, and territories, supporting a variety of life-saving activities such as: emergency shelter for people in crisis; street outreach and other essential services to engage people who may be living on the streets; rapid re-housing to provide time-limited permanent housing and stabilization services; and Homelessness prevention for individuals and families.
Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA formula)
The Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) program provides stable and permanent housing assistance and supportive services to one of the most vulnerable populations – low-income people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). This population often faces housing instability as well as other life and medical challenges, including mental health and substance abuse issues as well as discrimination and stigma that create barriers to needed services (authorized per the AIDS Housing Opportunity Act (42 U.S.C. 12901-12912)).
Housing Trust Fund (HTF)
HTF provides grants to states to produce and preserve affordable housing for extremely low- and very low-income households. States and state-designated entities are eligible grantees for the HTF. HUD allocates HTF funds by formula annually. A State must use at least 80 percent of each annual grant for rental housing; up to 10 percent for homeownership; and up to 10 percent for the grantee’s reasonable administrative and planning costs. HTF funds may be used for the production or preservation of affordable housing through the acquisition, new construction, reconstruction, and/or rehabilitation of non-luxury housing with suitable amenities. All HTF-assisted units will be required to have a minimum affordability period of 30 years.
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