Atlanta Regional Office Hosts Second Installment of Emergency Housing Vouchers Listening Session

HUD Region IV Staff Participants

On December 7th, the Atlanta Regional Office, the Office of Community Planning and Development, and the Office of Public and Indian Housing hosted their second Emergency Housing Voucher listening session. Over 130 stakeholders ranging from landlords, realtors, and nonprofit agencies to Continuums of Cares and Public Housing Authorities, participated during this listening session, offering concerns, best practices, and challenges faced by the Emergency Housing Voucher Program.

Shea Johnson, Georgia Field Office Director, started the listening session with opening remarks discussing the various barriers to the voucher program and the importance of bringing stakeholders together. Next, regional Administrator Jose Alvarez expressed the vital role listening sessions play in helping people understand how important Emergency Housing Vouchers are in Georgia. Administrator Alvarez also shared some background information on the program, highlighting the 428 Emergency Housing Vouchers Georgia has issued to date out of 1,389 the state received, noting, "it's a great start, but there's still work to be done in Georgia."

Atlanta Community Planning and Development Director Adrian Fields highlighted the first listening session in June and reiterated the importance for HUD to continue working with Continuums of Cares to assist the homeless and domestic violence survivors. While Susan Brooke, Senior Portfolio Manager for the Office of Public and Indian Housing, provided additional state data and set the meeting tone. Brooke stressed to attendees the importance of giving feedback during the breakout sessions.

Over 130 attendees, including landlords, realtors, and Public Housing Authority personnel, received an opportunity to not only share personal concerns about the Emergency Housing Voucher Program. But they obtain resources and feedback on how HUD can assist them in Emergency Housing Voucher Program leasing process. The listening session ended with great responses from stakeholders and HUD staff for the next steps, recognizing that partnerships and collaborative efforts impact how HUD can administer the Emergency Housing Voucher program in Georgia.

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