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The LaGrange Housing Authority is taking over a federally funded program aimed at securing housing for homeless individuals and their families.

LHA is taking over funding for the program that had previously been run by HOPE Atlanta.

Housing Authority CEO Zsa Zsa Heard said the program was going to be leaving LaGrange, so they decided to take it over and save 22 persons from being homeless and allow them to stay in their homes. LHA took over grant funding for the program and has been managing it since July 1.

Melanie Brady of the Department of Community Affairs said the program is permanent supportive housing where grant funds are used to pay rent for truly homeless disabled individuals.

LHA received $197,556 in grant funding to provide rental assistance for 22 units, which Brady said are typically one-bedroom apartments. Most of the units are currently in Lee’s Crossing and Cameron Crossing apartments but apartments at Brittney Place are also potentially in the works.

The program has been in LaGrange for more than a decade, originally known as Action Ministries, then Traveler’s Aid,  before being taken over by HOPE Atlanta, an Atlanta-based homeless advocacy non-profit. Brady said HOPE Atlanta ran the program since 2019 but they are transitioning to providing more service for homeless people rather than housing.

The program is basically a rental assistance program funded through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The leases and utilities are in the sponsor’s name, in this case, LHA, which they ensure get paid using the grant funds.

To qualify for the program, participants must be both truly homeless and disabled. If participants have employment a portion of their income goes to subsidize their rent and utilities but they are not required to have a job.

Brady said HUD is grateful that LHA took over the grant.

“We feel very grateful to have them continue this grant. Because if no one in this area wanted to take the grant, they would have to move it somewhere else in the State of Georgia. We didn’t want to do that because it has been here for several years,” Brady said, noting otherwise it would have displaced 22 households.