Through partnership with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), the GCDD supports the position of Disability Housing Coordinator within the Housing Finance Division.  Scott Walker works at the Disability Housing Coordinator to bring issues of accessibility and affordability to the forefront of DCA's housing programs. 

Housing CHOICE Down Payment Loan Program

The CHOICE Down Payment Loan Program will assist individuals with disabilities and households with disabled members that, because of income considerations alone, cannot afford to purchase a home in their community. Just as with any eligible home buyer, income and credit are the key issues to qualify for a home mortgage. However, individuals with disabilities have additional financial needs and housing issues which advocate for the provision of an enhanced amount of financial assistance beyond the $5,000 that is available to traditional Own HOME borrowers. 

For more information and contact information for participating lenders please download the CHOICE informational flyer.

Home Access Program

 The Home Access Program is an accessibility modification grant program which will allow the selected Contract Administrators to coordinate and provide specific services at the owner-occupied homes of individuals with disabilities and their families. Representation of the selected organizations includes regional development centers, community-based nonprofits, centers for independent living and area agencies on aging. The service areas represented by these entities cover 151 counties. A total of $300,000 is available to eligible applicants. Up to $15,000 will be provided for eligible accessibility modifications per home.  

 Individuals with disabilities and their families interested in the Home Access Program can log onto the DCA website to access the Contract Administrators list at www.dca.state.ga.us. Interested consumers should contact the Contract Administrators that cover their county service area to request an intake assessment of their residence.

 Other entities interested in serving as a Contract Administrator can submit an application in response to the Request For Qualifications (RFQ) which appears on the DCA website. DCA will review such responses on a case by case basis in an attempt to garner state-wide coverage for this program. Interested organizations may contact Mr. Scott Walker swalker@dca.state.ga.us with any questions.

www.GeorgiaHousingSearch.org

 DCA’s FREE, online affordable housing locator service, GeorgiaHousingSearch.org, has added more than 25,000 properties listings since its inception.   More than 4,000 of these property listings are currently available for immediate occupancy.

Launched in late September 2005, the website now contains more than 25,000 properties from 80 counties.   The website also averages approximately 3,000 searches per day from persons seeking housing statewide.

The eight-fold increase in property listings has been linked to the website’s “usability” for property owners.  Many Georgia property owners seeking renters in Georgia have accessed the website’s free listing service as another vehicle to link them to prospective tenants.  

Developed by DCA and NPI/Socialserve.com, GeorgiaHousingSearch.org asks prospective renters to access affordable housing options of their choice.  Each property listing provides summary information to help prospective tenants narrow their choices.  Information includes address (including city and zip code), number of bedrooms and bathrooms, monthly rent and deposit, contact person with telephone numbers, available rental date and other useful details.  The site supports property searches in English and Spanish and allows prospective tenants to access directions via mapquest.  

Georgiahousingsearch.org is sponsored by DCA and the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta.   The system is FREE to the consumer and FREE to landlords via a very convenient and streamlined registration process.  For more information, please visit www.GEORGIAHOUSINGSEARCH.ORG or call (877) 428-8844.

 

People with Disabilities and Housing in Georgia Report 2002 Report Published by the GCDD WEB PAGES                                                     DOWNLOAD IN (PDF)
Housing Report	Housing Report (pdf)
Executive Summary	Executive Summary(pdf)
Glossary	Glossary(pdf)
Appendix A - Site Info	Appendix A - Site Info(pdf)
Appendix B - Questionnaire	Appendix B - Questionnaire (pdf)