Atlanta commits $2 million more to nonprofit Star-C to help eviction victims

Since the pandemic, a nonprofit specializing in affordable housing and education has raised $16.5 million for rental assistance; continues work in partnership with the City

ATLANTA, July 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — In a significant step toward addressing housing instability, the Atlanta City Council has approved a 2 million dollars donation to Star-C Corporation’s Eviction Assistance Program. This funding will assist low-income residents by providing up to $7,000 in relief for households earning up to 60% of the median income (~$62,000(family of four) or $43,000 for an individual.

Star-C has a proven track record of helping with evictions, something it pivoted to during the pandemic. Since then, the 10-year-old nonprofit has raised $16.5 million for rental assistance, starting with a $50,000 GoFundMe campaign. Its Eviction Relief Fund has helped more than 5,000 families in 300 apartment communities across the metro area. 2 million dollars follows a 2 million dollars initial donation of the City of Atlanta at the end of last year.

“When you’re already in financial difficulty, all it takes is one bad day or a serious medical emergency to stop paying your rent or mortgage,” he says. Atlanta Mayor André Dickens“With the City Council’s support for these efforts, we are now able to help even more families avoid worst-case scenarios and maintain the stability that housing provides for them and our community.”

The city’s initial grant helped prevent the displacement of more than 220 households; since then, the city says more than 500 additional households have applied for assistance. In total, Metro Atlanta has faced more than 144,000 eviction filings in 2023. The funding, part of the city’s relief program, $100 million The housing requirement established last year helps minimize eviction filings, particularly for residents experiencing a temporary loss of income.

Eligible households must face defined hardships such as reduced income, medical expenses or transportation emergencies, in addition to meeting income limits.

“While Star-C turned to eviction assistance to address what we felt was a short-term necessity during the pandemic, the need remains great and we appreciate the recognition of this need and our efforts by the City and City Council,” said Audrea ReaseExecutive Director of Star-C. “Building on affordable housing for working families, we provide on-site after-school programs and summer camps, food security, access to affordable health care, and of course, now eviction assistance.”

Rease notes that this year, Star-C is celebrating its 10th anniversary, which it is marking with a September 25 event. It is also in the midst of a two-year capacity-building campaign, launched by a 1 million dollars She received a grant from a large health care company last year. She says that funding has been critical in expanding her programs to include more properties and provide even more resources to the communities she serves.

Star-C – a Atlantanonprofit organization whose mission is to reduce mobility in local schools – partners with responsible landlords to provide supportive services to children and families in underserved apartment communities. Through initiatives like Star-C SelectThe 10-year-old organization provides recurring programming to 47 additional communities that do not have on-site after-school programs.

Media Inquiries
Plant drawn (former member of the board of directors of Star-C)
678-637-5532
(protected email)

Further information
During the “Star-C Week (July 22-26),” the nonprofit will take more than 150 summer campers on life-changing school trips to expand their world beyond their immediate surroundings. Star-C’s monthly breakfast that Thursday will be in-person and feature a “speed mentoring” activity where community leaders will share tips with summer campers. Over the course of the week, Star-C will host 16 school supply giveaways to distribute 800 backpacks in affordable housing/workplace communities across the region.

Tenants, nonprofit leaders, city officials, potential donors and volunteers, and anyone else interested in affordable housing and Star-C’s eduhousing model can attend one of the organization’s monthly breakfasts.

Star-C was founded by a “compassionate capitalist” owner Marjy Stagmeierwho chronicled the success of this educational housing model in his book, Blighted: A Story of People, Politics, and an American Housing Miracle (University of Georgia Press). He presents one of the Star-C Atlanta communities as an open source model to inspire others concerned with affordable housing challenges.

SOURCE Star-C