LISTEN: Hundreds of Georgia residents relying on federal rental assistance may need to relocate as emergency housing vouchers expire this summer. Now the NAACP is stepping up to raise awareness and advocate for affected families. GPB's Amanda Andrews reports.

Georgia NAACP President Gwenette Westbrooks and Atlanta Branch President David Means visited the Georgia Department of Community Affairs on April 16, 2026 to advocate for families affected by the end of the emergency housing voucher program.

Georgia NAACP President Gwenette Westbrooks and Atlanta Branch President David Means visited the Georgia Department of Community Affairs on April 16, 2026.

Credit: Amanda Andrews / GPB News

Hundreds of Georgia residents relying on federal rental assistance may need to relocate as emergency housing vouchers expire this summer. Now the NAACP is stepping up to raise awareness and advocate for affected families.  

Federal funding for the vouchers was allocated in 2021 and expected to last through 2030. But due to the rising costs of rent, the program will now end on June 30.

Public housing authorities in Atlanta and Columbus said they’ll accept the new families.  

David Means is president of the Atlanta branch of the NAACP. He said stable housing is a civil right. 

“Atlanta would be hit the hardest because of our population," he said. "But again, I don't care if you're in rural Georgia or you're here in Atlanta: Any family that’s been mistreated or will be evicted or disenfranchised due to these cuts or these vouchers, we cannot stand for it.” 

Georgia NAACP President Gwenette Westbrooks said many people can’t just move.  

“People have children that they have to take out of schools,” she said. “And like I explained, you have people that jobs. They would have to leave their employment in order to be able to keep housing. So you have to make a decision which one is important, your employment or house.” 

Emergency voucher recipients will also be automatically added to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs tenant-based voucher waitlist.  

Westbrooks said it’s concerning that families on temporary vouchers were not added to waitlists for permanent housing support five years ago. 

“If they had been placed on the waiting list in 2021, it could be a possibility that their number would have approached where they would be eligible for permanent housing,” she said. “And that did not happen.” 

The Georgia DCA has established a website for residents navigating the end of the Emergency Housing Voucher Program.

Tags: housing  housing insecurity  housing vouchers  NAACP  Georgia  Atlanta  Columbus