The 20-Year View
This year, on our 20th anniversary, GBPI is including for the first time a feature on housing to underscore the historical and continuing critical role that housing plays in the health of Georgians every single day. In the past 20 years, access to housing has become more difficult. In 2002, 42.7% of Georgia renters were cost-burdened. In 2022, 47.7% of Georgia renters were cost-burdened.
Why is Investment In Housing Important for Health?
Access to safe, affordable and stable housing significantly impacts health outcomes. Unsafe housing has been linked to poor health, such as lead exposure causing damage to children’s nervous systems. High housing costs result in families having less money for other necessities, such as food and medicine. Access to safe, affordable housing has been associated with improved health and decreased health care expenses. A study found that access to housing and case management services reduced the frequency of emergency room visits and length of hospital stays for adults with chronic mental illnesses who experienced homelessness.
Georgia’s FY 2025 Housing Budget
State investment in housing is crucial to ensuring all Georgians have the opportunity to achieve optimal health. These investments are primarily found in the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) and the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). State housing funds for FY 2025 total approximately $34.7 million.
Funding for Supportive Housing Vouchers Stagnates in FY 2025
As a part of the Olmstead Settlement Agreement, the Georgia Housing Voucher Program (GHVP) was established in 2010 to provide permanent supportive housing for eligible individuals with serious and persistent mental illness at risk of or currently experiencing homelessness. According to the settlement agreement, the state is obligated to provide supportive housing to 9,000 individuals with serious and persistent mental illness. As of April 2023, just over 2,000 individuals were housed through the GHVP.[1]
Despite the unmet need, the GHVP is level-funded in the FY 2025 budget, leaving its base funding at around $26 million. The House of Representatives sought a $2.5 million increase for the program, but the Senate removed this increase while awaiting a response from the U.S. Department of Justice regarding the state’s compliance with the settlement agreement.
Increases in State Housing Trust Fund, Conditional Housing Program
The State Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless saw an approximately $4.6 million increase in the FY 2025 budget, raising its budget to around $7.8 million. These funds were allocated to improve homelessness services and allow DCA to pursue new federal grant opportunities. Over 68% of DCA’s budget comes from federal funds and grants, with state funds accounting for just 25% of the agency’s funding.
One million dollars were allocated to the Accountable Housing Initiative, a voluntary transitional housing program for up to 18 months established with the passage of HB 1410 earlier this year.
Endnotes
[1] Robinson, L., and Ruppersburg, M. (2023). Georgia Housing Voucher Program. Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. https://namiga.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2023/05/NAMI-GHVP-Presentation-5.5.23-1-1.pdf
