Georgia Financial Assistance

Atlanta water and sewer bills can climb fast, especially when a hidden leak runs up the meter. If you're behind, the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management (DWM) has three programs that can help: Care and Conserve Bill Payment Assistance for low- to moderate-income households with a past-due balance PromisePay, DWM's new interest-free payment plans, launched in July 2026 The Care and Conserve Plumbing Repair Program, which offers free plumbing repairs for eligible

In Georgia, an eviction is called a dispossessory case. In most of Atlanta it's filed in Fulton County Magistrate Court. The timeline is short: you have 7 days to file an answer after you're served, and 7 days to appeal if you lose. If you miss the first deadline, the landlord can ask for a writ of possession without a hearing. This guide walks through each step in Fulton County, the defenses you should know about, and where to get free legal help in metro Atlanta. Last check

Moving in metro Atlanta has gotten expensive in a specific way. The rent might be manageable, but the money due before you get keys often isn't. That usually means an application fee, a security deposit, first month's rent, sometimes a pet fee, plus the cost of the move itself. On a $1,500 apartment, it's easy to need $3,500 or more up front. Most help programs pay back rent to keep people where they are. Far fewer help with move-in costs, and some of the ones people still re

Intown Atlanta's church-based help is anchored by a few long-running ministries: Emmaus House's Lokey Help Center in Peoplestown, the Midtown Assistance Center, BCM Georgia in Buckhead, DEAM in Decatur, and the Central Outreach & Advocacy Center downtown. This guide lists 15 churches and church-founded ministries and the neighborhoods they serve. Atlanta congregations run pantries, soup kitchens, and help centers, and several church coalitions offer emergency rent and utility

Metro Atlanta's emergency help is organized by county: Fulton Atlanta Community Action Authority, Partnership for Community Action in DeKalb, Clayton County Community Services Authority, and suburban ministries like North Fulton Community Charities, MUST Ministries in Cobb, and Lawrenceville Cooperative Ministry. The Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation and Atlanta Legal Aid help tenants facing eviction, and the Atlanta Community Food Bank supplies local pantries. This guide