How to Use the Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) Program in Georgia

The Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) Program in Georgia is a special type of Section 8 voucher that helps people who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, fleeing domestic violence, or recently homeless pay for long‑term rental housing. It is run jointly by local public housing authorities (PHAs) and Continuum of Care (CoC) homeless service providers, not by walk‑in applications from the general public.

In Georgia, you typically cannot apply directly for an Emergency Housing Voucher; instead, you must be referred by an approved homeless services or victim services agency that partners with a housing authority in your area.

How the Emergency Housing Voucher Program Works in Georgia

The EHV program in Georgia is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) but administered by local housing authorities such as:

• Atlanta Housing
• Housing Authority of DeKalb County
• Savannah Housing Authority
• Augusta Housing Authority
• Smaller city/county housing authorities across the state

These housing authorities do not usually accept walk‑in EHV applications; they only issue vouchers to households referred by:

• The local Continuum of Care (CoC) agency that manages homeless services in your region
• A domestic violence or sexual assault service provider that has a formal agreement with the housing authority
• Sometimes a public child welfare agency (for certain families involved with DFCS)

Once you are referred and approved, an Emergency Housing Voucher works much like a regular Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8): you find a landlord willing to accept the voucher, and the housing authority pays a portion of your rent directly to the landlord while you pay the rest.

Key terms to know:

• Public Housing Authority (PHA) — The local government or quasi‑government agency that administers HUD vouchers and public housing.
• Continuum of Care (CoC) — The regional network of homeless programs that coordinates shelters, outreach, and housing referrals.
• VI‑SPDAT or similar assessment — A standardized questionnaire many CoCs use to prioritize people for housing programs like EHV.
• Domestic Violence (DV) service provider — A licensed nonprofit or government‑funded agency that helps survivors of domestic or sexual violence.

Rules, waiting times, and referral processes can vary between different Georgia cities and counties, so the exact steps for you may be slightly different than for someone in another part of the state.

Where to Start in Georgia: Finding the Right Official Office

The main official touchpoints for Emergency Housing Vouchers in Georgia are:

1. Your local Continuum of Care (CoC) / homeless services system
2. Your local public housing authority (PHA) that has EHV vouchers

You generally start with the CoC or a local homeless service provider, not the housing authority.

Concrete first action you can take today:

1. Call or visit a local homeless services or coordinated entry office in your county.

   • Search online for “[your county] Georgia Continuum of Care” or “homeless services [your city] Georgia” and look for organizations, coalitions, or offices that end in .gov or are clearly recognized nonprofits.
   • Ask: “Do you participate in referrals for the Emergency Housing Voucher program, or can you connect me to the agency that does?”

2. If you are fleeing domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, contact a Georgia domestic violence hotline or shelter, and say:

   • Phone script: “I’m trying to get safe housing and I heard about Emergency Housing Vouchers. Are you able to make EHV referrals in my area, or connect me with someone who can?”

3. Once you reach the correct agency, they will usually:

   • Do an intake or coordinated entry assessment (often over the phone or in person)
   • Confirm whether your situation meets the HUD EHV categories (homeless, at risk, fleeing DV, etc.)
   • Decide if an EHV referral is possible based on local voucher availability and prioritization rules

You can also call your local housing authority and ask:

• “Which agency in our area does Emergency Housing Voucher referrals, and how do I get assessed for that?”
  Search for “[your city] housing authority Georgia” and only use contact numbers from official .gov or clearly labeled housing authority sites to avoid scams.

What You Need to Prepare: Information and Documents

When a Georgia CoC or partner agency assesses you for an Emergency Housing Voucher referral, they commonly ask for proof of identity, income, and housing crisis, and the housing authority will later ask for more documents if you are selected.

Documents you’ll typically need:

• Government‑issued photo ID (such as a Georgia driver’s license, state ID, or other official ID) for adult household members
• Social Security cards or official proof of SSNs for all household members, or documentation explaining why someone does not have one
• Proof of homelessness or housing crisis, such as a shelter verification letter, eviction notice, written statement from a caseworker, police report, or a letter from a DV service provider

Additional documents often required at the housing authority stage in Georgia include:

• Proof of income for all adults, such as pay stubs, benefit award letters (SSI, SSDI, TANF, unemployment), or child support records
• Birth certificates for children, and sometimes for all household members
• Current or most recent lease and written eviction notice if you are at risk of homelessness rather than already in shelter or on the street
• Disability verification forms or medical documentation if your eligibility or priority is linked to disability (these forms are usually provided by the housing authority)

If you are fleeing domestic violence and cannot safely access some documents, tell the DV or homeless services provider; they can often help you create alternative documentation or advocate with the housing authority for flexibility.

Step‑by‑Step: From First Contact to Getting an EHV in Georgia

1. Connect with the local homelessness or DV system

1. Identify the correct CoC or intake agency.

   • Search for “coordinated entry [your city] Georgia” or “homeless intake [your county] Georgia” and confirm they are part of the official homeless services system.
   • If unsure, call your city or county housing/community development department (usually a .gov office) and ask who handles coordinated entry or homeless housing referrals.

2. Complete an intake/assessment.

   • This may be done at a coordinated entry office, shelter, outreach site, or DV agency.
   • They will gather your basic information, household size, income, where you slept last night, safety concerns, and may use a standardized tool like VI‑SPDAT.

What to expect next: The agency will typically decide which housing resources you might qualify for, including whether you should be placed on a list for possible EHV referral or other housing programs.

2. Ask specifically about Emergency Housing Vouchers

Concrete action: During your intake or with your case manager, clearly say:

• “I’m interested in the Emergency Housing Voucher program. Is that available through your Continuum of Care, and how do I get considered for it?”

They will usually explain:

• Whether any EHV vouchers are still available in your area
• The local priorities (for example, unsheltered homelessness, chronic homelessness, DV survivors, families with children)
• How they decide who is referred to the housing authority when a voucher opens

What to expect next: If you meet criteria and there is capacity, you may be added to a housing prioritization list, and the agency will contact you if/when they are ready to refer you to a housing authority for an EHV.

3. Gather your documents while you wait

Even if you are not yet referred, you can prepare documents now so you can move quickly if a voucher becomes available.

1. Collect IDs and SSN proofs for everyone in your household.
2. Get written proof of homelessness or risk, such as:
   • A letter on letterhead from a shelter, outreach worker, or case manager confirming your homeless status
   • A court‑stamped eviction notice or notice to vacate
   • For DV situations, a letter from a DV advocate, police report, or restraining order (you don’t have to share details you are not comfortable sharing; advocates can help with wording).
3. Organize income documents (pay stubs, benefit letters) in a folder or envelope you can carry.

What to expect next: When you are referred, these documents will help you complete the housing authority’s EHV intake much faster, reducing the chance you miss a deadline and lose the voucher opportunity.

4. Housing authority referral and eligibility review

If the CoC selects you for an Emergency Housing Voucher:

1. The CoC or partner agency sends a referral to the housing authority that holds the vouchers (for example, Atlanta Housing, Savannah Housing Authority, or another local PHA).
2. The housing authority will typically:
   • Schedule an EHV intake appointment (phone, virtual, or in person)
   • Ask you to complete forms similar to a Section 8 application
   • Review your income, household size, immigration status rules, and documentation of homelessness/at risk status

What to expect next: After review, the housing authority will either:

• Approve you for an EHV and issue a voucher with a set deadline to find housing (commonly 60–120 days), or
• Determine you are not eligible under their rules and send you a written notice explaining the decision and your right to informal review in many cases.

No one can guarantee that you will be approved; each housing authority must follow HUD and local policies.

5. Using the voucher to find and lease a unit

If you receive an Emergency Housing Voucher in Georgia:

1. The housing authority will give you a voucher document and a packet explaining:
   • Your maximum rent limit/payment standard
   • What type/size unit you are approved for
   • Deadlines to submit a signed Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA)
2. Your case manager or CoC agency may help you:
   • Search for landlords who accept vouchers
   • Complete rental applications
   • Request reasonable accommodation if you have a disability

What to expect next: After you and a landlord agree on a unit:

• The housing authority inspects the unit to make sure it meets HUD Housing Quality Standards.
• If the unit passes and rent is approved, you sign a lease with the landlord, and the housing authority signs a Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) contract with the landlord.
• You then pay your share of the rent each month directly to the landlord, and the housing authority pays the rest.

Real-world friction to watch for

Real-world friction to watch for: A common snag in Georgia is that EHV vouchers are limited and sometimes fully allocated, so you may be told there are no current openings even though the program exists. In that case, ask to complete coordinated entry anyway, request to be placed on the housing prioritization list, and ask about other rapid rehousing or permanent supportive housing options while you wait in case more EHV slots open later.

Legitimate Help and How to Avoid Scams

Because the Emergency Housing Voucher program involves rental assistance and government benefits, scams are common.

Use these safeguards:

• Never pay anyone to “guarantee” you an Emergency Housing Voucher or a faster referral. Legitimate Georgia housing authorities and CoC agencies do not charge application fees for EHV.
• Only share sensitive information (Social Security numbers, full birthdates) with verified housing authorities, recognized shelters, or DV service providers.
• When searching online, look for .gov sites for housing authorities and city/county agencies, and confirm nonprofit agencies through known hotlines or referral networks.
• If someone contacts you out of the blue claiming they can get you an EHV if you send money or gift cards, assume it is a scam and report it to your local housing authority or law enforcement.

If you feel stuck or unsure who to contact next, you can:

• Call your city or county housing/community development department and say: “I’m trying to access the Emergency Housing Voucher program. Which homeless service or Continuum of Care agency should I contact to get assessed?”
• Ask any shelter, food pantry, or social service agency you are already connected with to refer you to the local coordinated entry or CoC program that handles EHV referrals.

Once you have made contact with a legitimate CoC or DV agency and started an intake, you are in the correct system; keep in touch with your caseworker, respond quickly to calls or emails, and have your documents ready so you can move forward as soon as an Emergency Housing Voucher opportunity opens up.