Authorized disbursements for residential housing projects

With respect to residential housing projects, the commission may authorize the disbursement of available money from the trust fund for residential housing projects sponsored by a qualified sponsor. The commission may consult, as appropriate, with persons with varied and diverse interests in housing in order to acquaint them with the trust fund and to solicit information relating to housing needs, residential housing projects, and criteria for selection of residential housing projects. The criteria for making such disbursement decisions shall include, but shall not be limited to: (1) The number of persons assisted; 1056 8-3-311 (2) The leveraging of money or in-kind services by a qualified sponsor; (3) The geographic distribution of residential housing projects; (4) The availability of other forms of assistance; and (5) Any and all other factors bearing upon the advisability and necessity of the residential housing project. History. Code 1981, § 8-3-310, enacted by Ga. L. 1988, p. 717, § 1; Ga. L. 1991, p. 1653, § 2-3; Ga. L. 1996, p. 872, § 4; Ga. L. 2024, p. 168, § 1/HB 1410, effective July 1, 2024. Amendments. The 2024 amendment, effective July 1, 2024, removed the (a) designation; in the introductory language, substituted “With respect to residential housing projects, the” for “The” at the beginning and substituted “but shall not be limited to:” for “but not be limited to, the following:” at the end and deleted former subsection (b), which read: “Funds may also be disbursed from the trust fund to pay expenses of the commission, to pay any and all operating expenses, and to pay for professional, technical, and clerical services provided the commission by the Department of Community Affairs or by other outside sources.” 8-3-311. Creation of stable housing accountability programs; application process; minimum standards; approval criteria; funding. (a) With respect to stable housing accountability programs, the commission may authorize the disbursement of available money from the trust fund for any stable housing accountability program sponsored by a qualified sponsor under the terms and conditions of this article. (b) The commission may consult, as appropriate, with persons with varied and diverse interests in housing in order to acquaint them with the trust fund and to solicit information relating to housing needs, potential stable housing accountability programs, and criteria for selection of stable housing accountability programs. (c) On or before January 1, 2025, the commission shall develop an application process for qualified sponsors to apply for funding to operate a stable housing accountability program. (d) On or before January 1, 2025, the commission shall publish uniform state-wide minimum standards for a stable housing accountability program. At minimum, to be certified as a stable housing accountability program, the program shall: (1) Provide voluntary, immediate, and stable housing to stable housing accountability program participants; (2) Limit the length of total residence for any person to 18 months or whenever the tenant who was the qualifying resident is able to obtain or is offered affordable housing, whichever is earlier; 1057 8-3-311 (3) Provide ongoing assistance to each resident for obtaining long-term affordable housing; (4) Require residents to be removed from the program if they fail to meet specified accountability measures, including sustaining an honest, good-faith effort to achieve or maintain sobriety from drugs and alcohol; (5) Conduct regular inspections of common areas and residential units; and (6) Require qualifying residents: (A) To show proof of U.S. citizenship and execute an affidavit verifying continuous residency in this state for the previous 12 months; (B) To participate in free and relevant job training and educational opportunities until such resident obtains stable employment; (C) To engage in an active search and apply for stable employment; (D) Who obtain stable employment to maintain such employment status as long as stable employment is available to them; (E) To participate in counseling, mental heath care, and substance abuse treatment programs, as necessary; (F) To submit to regular drug and alcohol testing; (G) To abstain from criminal activity; (H) Who have minor children to ensure that such children receive adequate nutrition, health care, and education; and (I) To submit to regular review of compliance with applicable terms and conditions provided for in this Code section for stable housing accountability programs. (e) The criteria for approving an application shall include, but shall not be limited to: (1) The total number of stable housing accountability program participants who are likely to receive assistance from the proposed stable housing accountability program; (2) The ability of the applicant to leverage their own or other available money or in-kind services for the benefit of the proposed stable housing accountability program; (3) The geographic distribution of existing stable housing accountability programs; 1058 8-3-313 (4) The quality of the various forms of assistance to be offered to residents of the proposed stable housing accountability program; (5) The likelihood that the qualified sponsor will successfully fulfill the terms and conditions set forth in this article and the contract between the commission and the qualified sponsor; and (6) Any and all other factors bearing upon the advisability and necessity of the proposed stable housing accountability program. (f) On or before January 1, 2025, the application process, minimum standards, approval criteria, and available funding for transitional housing projects shall be published and maintained on the website of the commission, which shall be hosted on the public website of the Department of Community Affairs. (g) No funds shall be disbursed to a qualified sponsor until a contract is signed for the provision of the approved stable housing accountability program. Each contract shall require financial assurance from the qualified sponsor for full compliance with the contract. History. Code 1981, § 8-3-311, enacted by Ga. L. 2024, p. 168, § 1/HB 1410, effective July 1, 2024. Effective date. This Code section became effective July 1, 2024. Editor’s notes. Ga. L. 2024, p. 168, § 1/HB 1410, effective July 1, 2024, redesignated former Code Section 8-3-311 as present Code Section 8-3-313; the former Code section pertained to powers of commission to hold title, foreclose, commence action to protect or enforce rights, and exercise other rights for its benefit or protection. 8-3-312. Disbursements for operating expenses.