My rent and all utilities are past due in Austell, GA

(Request from Shamarr in Austell, Georgia) I would like to inquire about assistance in my area. My rent and all utilities are past due. The total amount due for the rent is $1,200 not including July. The amount owed is for May & June with a partial payment already paid to the landlord of $540.

Dear Shamarr,

I understand that you are looking for programs that can help with past due rent in Cobb County. With utilities also falling behind, you will certainly need a comprehensive approach to curing all of the arrears so that you are not in danger of an eviction. Here are some potential candidates for programs that provide these types of services to Austell and Cobb County residents.

The Center for Family Resources

The Center for Family Resources (CFR) in nearby Marietta provides help to hundreds of households each year during periods of financial hardship. Over $300,000 in financial grants are made each year to applicants in need of rental assistance, transportation and medicine.

CFR will accept requests for back rent payment assistance, but there is a more permanent housing goal shared by the Directors of the organization. If your current rental unit is becoming unaffordable, perhaps you should consider letting the organization transition you into a more affordable rental home.

Instead of a homeless shelter, CFR provides 3 months of emergency shelter in individual housing units as a part of the Short-Term Housing Program. The Short-Term Extended Housing Program delivers 6 months of apartment living at a low cost. Both programs are designed to help you stabilize your finances and begin to save money towards your next security deposit.

If you have been struggling for some time to afford living costs on your income, then you may need a more long-term solution. CFR’s Transitional Housing Program can give you up to 2 years of subsidized rent in one of their rental units while you focus on job skills training and personal development.

Finally, CFR is no stranger to rent-controlled housing. The organization administers the Cambridge Woods apartment complex for the purpose of providing permanently reduced rent to residents earning at least $1,350 per month. Rental rates start at just under $500 per month. To find out more about these rental assistance programs serving Cobb County as well as to make an appointment with a case manager, call CFR at 770-428-2601.

Sweetwater Mission

Formerly known as Sweetwater Valley Christian Aid Mission Partnership (Sweetwater Valley CAMP), Sweetwater Mission also provides comprehensive aid to tenants who are facing eviction due to delinquent rent. This charity provides assistance to lower income families throughout Cobb and Douglas counties. The organization is located in Austell.

Much of the donations are food or clothing. However, there are also thousands of dollars paid in direct financial support to those who need help with their rent or utilities. To get help, call Sweetwater Mission at 770-819-0662 to request information about eviction prevention through the Family Support program. This service generally serves families with children in school who are at risk of homelessness.

When contacting these aid organizations, it can help to provide information about your family size, income levels over the past 3 months and details about your hardship. Let them help you. If you do not qualify for cash assistance, there may be other ways where they can help, including a referral into a more suitable program that either pays past due rent in Cobb County or provides alternate solutions for reducing your ongoing housing costs.