Georgia Housing Groups Pessimistic Over Legislative Efforts on Investor Price Squeeze
A coalition of housing rights advocates in Georgia is expressing disappointment as the 2025 legislative session approaches its conclusion. With little progress made on key bipartisan bills, these advocates had hoped for measures to protect Georgians from escalating rents, challenging landlords, and increasing eviction threats.
Among the coalition are prominent groups like Habitat for Humanity Northwest Metro Atlanta and House ATL. They, along with over three dozen housing non-profits, civil rights organizations, and faith-based groups, have been lobbying intensely for legislative action to regulate corporate-owned single-family homes and extend a federal emergency rental assistance program that expires later this year.
However, despite supporting multiple bipartisan bills this year, there is a bleak outlook for the remainder of the session, according to a leading voice in the housing advocacy coalition.
“It’s grim especially given how much recognition is now of the importance of housing people as a foundation for strong communities, strong families,” stated Elizabeth Appley, a public policy advocate for housing rights in Georgia. “There’s really no way for people to succeed without decent, safe and affordable places to live.”
A significant setback occurred when House Bill 689 failed to advance by the March 6 deadline. Sponsored by Dalton Republican Rep. Kasey Carpenter, the bill aimed to continue the Georgia Rental Assistance Program, initially launched in March 2021 with $1 billion in federal emergency rental assistance funding. Advocate groups are calling for $25 million to be included in next year’s state budget to support this program.
The proposed measure also includes a homeless prevention program to offer resources such as legal support to unhoused and low-income individuals. However, the 2026 budget proposal only allocates $4 million for the State Housing Trust Fund or homeless intervention.
Appley noted the Georgia Housing Voucher Program’s limitations, having only provided housing to around 20 individuals since April 1. Increased funding is necessary to sustain the achievements made using soon-to-expire federal funds.
The proposed budget for next year does grant a $1.7 million increase to support adult mental health services through a housing voucher program managed by the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. The Georgia Housing Coalition is also advocating for a $20 million state grant to support a program offering housing and wraparound services to chronically unhoused individuals with persistent mental illnesses.
There is hope for the passing of Democratic Sen. Kim Jackson’s Senate Bill 170, which would establish an Interagency Council on Homelessness. A vote on this bipartisan bill is anticipated in the House Governmental Affairs Committee within the following week.
Conversely, some traction has been observed in measures opposed by housing rights groups. The Senate Public Safety Committee could soon review a substitute of House Bill 61, originally about issuing license plates for ambulances and hearses, now containing language critics argue violates rights of individuals accused of illegally occupying homes.
On a more positive note, there has been progress with a coalition-backed bill addressing the surge of investor-owned homes, primarily around metro Atlanta. The House passed a bipartisan bill by a significant majority, aimed at holding out-of-state landlords accountable when managing single-family homes in Georgia.
House Bill 399 mandates landlords owning 25 or more single-family properties to hire local brokers or real estate agents and maintain in-state staff to address tenant grievances. “If you are a single family, young family, looking to purchase a home, these investors are taking assets out of Georgia,” stated Decatur Democratic Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver during a debate. “They’re profiting on rental charges and home value accelerations, profits that aren’t benefiting young Georgia families seeking homeownership.”
Another stalled bipartisan bill is House Bill 555, aiming to limit investors’ interests to no more than 2,000 single-family properties or 10 multifamily properties. The Georgians First Residential Property Protection Act, spearheaded by Rep. Derrick McCollum, seeks to impose penalties, such as returning rental payments if a lease is deemed unlawful.
This bill also aims to combat the rise in investor-owned housing that has reduced home affordability in metro Atlanta’s neighborhoods. An Atlanta Regional Commission report last November indicated that seven corporations own over 51,000 single-family rental homes in 21 counties around the region.
Advocates have expressed concerns over the legislature’s inability to pass laws ensuring long-term extended stay housing residents receive the same tenant rights as apartment renters. Elizabeth Appley highlighted a case where a family’s belongings were discarded after missing a checkout deadline at an extended stay hotel, despite paying daily for months.
Moreover, U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock is attempting to alleviate Georgia’s high living costs by introducing a series of bills, including the Downpayment Toward Equity Act and the Rent Relief Act, among others. Warnock emphasized bipartisan cooperation to address the housing crisis disproportionately affecting young people and renters. He also criticized private equity firms’ influence in acquiring housing inventory, particularly in the Atlanta region, causing rental costs to surge and hindering generational wealth accumulation.
Warnock stressed, “We need to listen to the people across Georgia—Democrats, Republicans, independents—all agree that we have a severe housing issue impacting young people. Housing is not a partisan issue.”
Warnock concluded, “For those who support the free market, understand this housing crisis is reshaping the American market. We’re witnessing a generational wealth shift from the young to the old, threatening our economy’s outlook.”
