November | 2024

Housing Justice Update

Healthy Housing Coalition Convening

Critically poor housing conditions endanger children statewide. To better understand challenges in coastal Georgia, our Housing Justice team recently traveled to Savannah for the Fall Membership Convening of Georgia Appleseed’s Georgia Healthy Housing Coalition (GHHC).

We gathered at the historic Beach Institute and connected with local residents and leaders to discuss their housing challenges. Panelists State Senator Derek Mallow, Judge Chris Middleton, attorney Jennifer Davenport, and city planner Whitney Shephard highlighted urgent housing issues and sparked thoughtful conversations on potential solutions.

Join Georgia Healthy Housing Coalition

Legislative Priorities for Housing Justice

What's next: Georgia Appleseed’s priorities for the 2025-2026 Georgia Legislative Session advocate for stronger rental housing protections to combat unsafe conditions that harm children’s health. Specific priorities include:

Repeal the Rental Registry Ban: Restore local governments' ability to track rental properties, hold landlords accountable, and ensure safer living conditions for families.
Seal Eviction Findings: Support sealing eviction filings until final judgment to prevent unjust housing instability for families.
Extend Protections to Families in Extended-Stay Hotels: Push for legal recognition of extended-stay operators as landlords, safeguarding housing rights for families in need.

Safe at Home Act Materials

Georgia renters and landlords have new rights under the Safe at Home Act (HB 404, signed into law in May). Learn more and help us spread the word with our new materials:

“Know Your Rights” wallet card (left)
One-page quick guide for tenants
Letter template for tenants to notify landlords of unsafe and unhealthy conditions.

We are also developing a bench card for magistrate court judges about the requirements under the new law. Download copies here or email Policy Counsel Luci Ruiz (lruiz@gaappleseed.org) to request printed copies for distribution.

Welcome Staff Attorney Jack Grote

We're thrilled to introduce Jack Grote, our new Staff Attorney and an expert in educational advocacy and disability rights. Jack joins us from the Atlanta Legal Aid Society, where he represented children with disabilities and students in school hearings to enforce their rights and secure the supports they need. Jack mentors law students at Georgia State University, guiding the next generation of lawyers on disability rights and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Before Atlanta Legal Aid, Jack was an attorney with Georgia Legal Services Program fighting for the rights of Georgia’s rural communities in housing and domestic violence cases. Learn more about Jack here.

We appreciate you!

This year's Supporter Appreciation Event at Atlanta Hard Cider was a hit! We presented our inaugural Pom Pomme Awards, celebrating our core supporters and those who branch out for justice!

Board Member John Bey welcomed attendees, sharing why he and his firm are proud to stand with Georgia Appleseed in supporting Georgia’s children.
Darlene Lynch, our Legal & Policy Director, provided program updates, including how we are expanding our FAIR project.
Policy Counsel Luci Ruiz celebrated Pro Bono Appreciation Week, noting the $1,067,000 in pro bono services contributed last year by 27 firms.

Thank you to everyone who joined us—with your support, we're planting seeds of change across Georgia!

Upcoming Events

Justice Conversation:

Housing, the Law, and Child Well-Being

Tuesday, Dec. 3, 8:00-10:00 AM

Join our panel of judges and policy makers to discuss how each branch of Georgia government can help ensure that every Georgia child has a stable, healthy home.

Our panelists include (clockwise from top left) Justice Verda Colvin, Georgia Supreme Court; Senator Kay Kirkpatrick, Georgia State Senate; Judge Caren Cloud, Fulton County Juvenile Court; Chief Magistrate Judge Keisha Wright Hill, Clayton County Magistrate Court.
Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Christopher Nunn will provide opening remarks.

The event is free, but registration is required by Nov. 29.

Learn more about our Justice Conversations series here.

Save the Date to Celebrate!

Georgia Appleseed’s 20th anniversary is coming up in 2025! Save the date for Roaring for Justice, Friday April 25, 2025, as we celebrate two decades of justice.

Sponsorship opportunities are available at all levels. Be a part of our Roaring 20th celebration and make a difference for Georgia’s children. Learn more here.

Become a Sponsor

Connect With Us

Connecting with you helps us build our community of advocates and amplify our mission to advance justice for children across Georgia. View our video library on YouTube , and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn and FaceBook.