Georgia Lawmakers Focus on Prevention

House Bill 689 would create a statewide Homelessness Prevention Program through Georgia's State Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless. The Georgia House passed the bipartisan bill on February 25, 2026 sending it to the Senate for consideration.

What Would the Program Do?

Instead of focusing only on people who have already lost their housing, the program would fund organizations capable of helping low-income households who are at risk of becoming homeless.

Under the bill, participating organizations would need to provide or coordinate services including short term rental assistance, legal help during eviction proceedings, and eviction diversion or mediation services. That could mean helping a family resolve a housing crisis while they still have an address rather than waiting until they are living in a shelter, hotel, or car.

Why Prevention Matters

Homelessness rarely starts the day someone loses the keys to their home.

There are often warning signs first. A missed rent payment. A job loss. An eviction notice. A temporary reduction in income. A family that can normally maintain its household may need help getting through one difficult period. Once housing is lost, the problem becomes much harder and often more expensive to fix.

HB 689 now heads to the Georgia Senate, where lawmakers will decide whether the proposal moves forward.

Sources: Georgia General Assembly: HB 689, Georgia House Daily Report: February 25, 2026