Rental Assistance in Pickens County, GA
Residents who are experiencing trouble paying the rent may be able to benefit from these assistance programs serving Jasper and Pickens County. Getting help can mean the difference between eviction and safe and affordable housing.
While the county is small, these agencies provide substantial support to help local families and individuals. This is some of the aid that is available.
CARES
Community Assistance Resources and Emergency Services is committed to the well being of local residents. They provide cash aid to applicants that need help making their rent payments.
There is a catch though. Clients must show good faith by making efforts to improve their situation. Someone who is unemployed should be able to demonstrate that they are taking classes or applying for jobs to correct their income problems.
Tenants who need help may contact CARES at 706-253-4778. An appointment can be scheduled where a case manager will review all documentation for the situation, including the lease contract and utility bills.
North Georgia Community Action
Rent help is provided through the Emergency Assistance program at North Georgia Community Action. This charity provides direct assistance to families who cannot afford to catch up on rent payments.
When eviction is threatened, sometimes the agency can provide the necessary funds to catch up on the rent and halt the eviction process. Clients may visit the Jasper office on West Church Street or call 706-692-6803.
Pickens County Georgia Habitat for Humanity
Sometimes tenants who have struggled with rent increases give up entirely on the American dream of owning their own home. The reality is that they may never be able to realize a better life if they are subject to annual rent increases.
What the local Habitat for Humanity chapter does is to replace the ever-increasing rent with a fixed and affordable mortgage payment. There are a couple of major advantages to this.
- First, the rent never increases. In 20 years rent could be twice what it is now, but that mortgage payment will still be the same. It will be even more affordable later than it is initially.
- At retirement, a homeowner that has paid off their mortgage can live in the home for free. There are no mortgage or rent payments. They can take all of their social security and retirement income and use that for fun and travel instead of paying that same massive bill every month forever.
Applicants must be considered very low-income to pass the initial screening process. The trade-off for getting a favorable mortgage payments is that a certain amount of sweat equity is required. Clients typically help others in the program build their homes along with the organization staff. Then others will help them build their home.
Those who would like to swap their increasingly unaffordable rent payments for a fixed mortgage payment should call Habitat at 706-253-2393 or visit the Cares Drive office in Jasper.
Jasper Housing Authority
Those who are permanently unable to afford rent may need to apply for subsidized rent through the Jasper Housing Authority. This administrator of public housing projects can determine whether an applicant meets the requirements to move into any new vacancies. Call 706-692-5514 to inquire about vacancies and requirements for housing.
Rental Loans
Those who earn too much to be approved for grant funding may borrow funds to cover temporary rent emergencies. The loan nonprofit financial institution located in Pickens County is Pico Federal Credit Union on Dixie Street in Jasper.
Loans can cover temporary rental arrears, but the proceeds must be repaid. Some interest is required, although the finance charges are far less than for-profit lenders typically charge.