What is public housing and who is eligible?

Public housing was established to provide decent and safe rental housing for eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Public housing is limited to low-income families and individuals. The Housing Authority determines your eligibility based on: 1) annual gross income; 2) whether you qualify as elderly, a person with a disability, or as a family; and 3) U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status. If you are eligible, the Housing Authority will check your references to make sure you and your family will be good tenants. Housing Authorities will deny admission to any applicant whose habits and practices may be expected to have a detrimental effect on other tenants or on the neighborhood’s environment.

Do you do Section 8?

We currently do not do Section 8.  If you have questions regarding Section 8, please call the following number: DCA’s application assistance phone line: (888)858-6085.

Is your waiting list open?

Each property maintains its own waiting list so you will need to check with the property where you are interested in applying.  For the Harlem Office please call (706)556-3025, for the Thomson Office please call (706)595-4878, and for Warrenton and Crawfordville Office please call (706)465-3479.  Each property maintains separate waitlists for different bedroom sizes and may close waiting lists for certain bedroom sizes once that waiting list has reached capacity.  If you have questions regarding what bedroom size you may be eligible for, please call one of the above numbers for assistance.

How do I apply?

Your first step will be to pick up a pre-application from the Housing Authority office.  Pre-applications are given out daily but accepted on Wednesdays only! Once you have filled out the application you can return it to the Housing Authority on any Wednesday along with the additional required documentation.  The additional required documentation includes such things as: all original birth certificates, all original social security cards, driver’s licenses or ID’s, and proof of income.  Please refer to the pre-application for the full list of required documentation.

So what’s the next step?

Once your application is received, please allow two to three weeks for processing.  If you are found eligible, you will be notified via mail about a follow up appointment to complete the second half of the application.  The second half of the application involves coming in to the office for a short interview and additional application paperwork.  This generally takes around 30 minutes.

If you are found ineligible for admission, you have the right to a hearing with Housing Authority personnel regarding the decision.  Any requests for hearings must be submitted in writing to the Housing Authority that received the application.

How long do I have to wait?

Wait times vary by Housing Authority and can change quickly.  At present, wait time average is between six and eighteen months (6 months to a year and a half).

Can I apply to more than one Housing Authority?

Yes! You can apply at all East Georgia Housing Authority Campuses! However, a separate application will need to be submitted to each Housing Authority for processing.

I’m on the waiting list, now what?

Once you’ve finished the application process and are placed on the waiting list, we require that you call and update your application every 3 months. Any changes regarding phone numbers, change of address, or changes in income should be reported immediately.  If you do not keep an up to date address and phone number on file, we might not be able to contact you when you are at the top of the waiting list!

I’ve received a letter that says I’m nearing the top of the waiting list.  What now?

Once you’ve been notified that you are nearing the top of the waiting list, you will be asked to bring in updated income verification.  This will include two months’ worth of your most recent pay stubs for all working household members, any Social Security or Supplemental Security Income awards letters for family members receiving any, and child support statements.  Please contact the above Housing Authorities for specific instructions.

Some Helpful Tips!

Make sure that you have all the required documentation before you turn in your application!  The pre-application will list everything that you need to bring with you.  If you have a question, please call the Housing Authority.  Being prepared saves time and trips back and forth to the Housing Authority.

Always make sure to call and update your application if you get a new phone number or a new address!  We will contact you via mail and/or phone to notify you once you’ve neared the top of the wait list.  If we cannot get a hold of you, you could lose your place on the waiting list and you run the risk of your application being deemed “inactive”.  If your application is deemed “inactive”, you will not be eligible for housing assistance through East Georgia Housing Authority Partners unless you complete another application and go through processing again.

Save! We do our best to notify you as far ahead of time as possible if a unit is going to be available for you.  However, once you have been notified that a unit is available for you, you will only have a certain number of days to view and then lease the unit.  If you are unable to come up with the rent and security deposit and/or can’t turn on the necessary utilities in your name in the allotted time frame we will be forced to move to the next applicant.  We are unable to hold units.

Finally, please make sure to read through the application paperwork carefully.  We understand that the waiting process can sometimes be frustrating. We encourage you to ask questions and be involved in the process.