Metro Atlanta's Eviction Filings Exceed the National Average
If you're renting in metro Atlanta, the latest eviction numbers are hard to ignore.
New data from Princeton University Eviction Lab, highlighted by Georgia Public Broadcasting, shows 142,047 eviction cases were filed in the past year across Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett, and Clayton counties. That works out to a filing rate of roughly 24%, more than triple the national average of about 7%. For context, that's higher than New York, Houston, and Boston.
A Filing Isn't the Same as Getting Evicted
An eviction filing means a landlord started the legal process. It doesn't necessarily mean the tenant ultimately lost their home. About 14% of renter households in the metro area received at least one filing during the year. Among households with a filing, 36% had experienced repeated filings at the same address within the last two years.
Many renters aren't dealing with one unexpected rough month. Some are repeatedly struggling to keep up with housing costs. And even when someone remains in their home, an eviction filing can follow them. Rental histories and court records may be considered during tenant screening, making it harder to qualify for another apartment later.
So What's Being Done?
The goal isn't to prevent landlords from enforcing a lease. Rent is still due, and property owners have financial obligations too. The bigger question is whether struggling renters can get help early enough to keep the situation from reaching court.
Atlanta leaders are looking at ways to intervene sooner, including giving tenants more time to catch up on rent and expanding access to legal and financial assistance.
One example is a partnership between the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation and Thomasville Heights Elementary School that brings legal resources directly into the community. The program has been associated with fewer evictions and fewer children having to change schools during the school year.
The Bigger Picture
Rental assistance is important, but families need more places to turn before a missed payment becomes an eviction filing.
The Atlanta Regional Commission's new Housing Forward 2035 strategy includes a regional approach to housing stability and homelessness prevention. ARC is also using eviction data to help local governments and nonprofits identify where rental assistance, legal help, and other resources can be deployed to assist struggling families before an eviction.