Motel to Home Program
SVdP Georgia’s Motel to Home program was created in response to a community need identified in the Norcross study: When Extended Stay Becomes Home and by the work of our volunteer caseworkers. This study documented what we have witnessed with our own eyes: extended stay motels have become the homeless shelters of the suburbs for many families for months and years on end. Even though most of them are working full-time, they often have no other alternative after an eviction because most property owners will not rent to a tenant who owes money to another property. They move in thinking it will be a temporary solution but become trapped as the high daily and weekly fees plus the local motel room taxes leaves them little money to save for paying off debt or for deposits on a new apartment.
Our Motel to Home program is a comprehensive model designed to help families move from extended-stay motels to more stable housing. We believe that safe and stable housing is the key leverage point for improving lives and achieving self-sufficiency by impacting:
- Intergenerational economic mobility
- Educational achievement
- Health and wellness
Note: SVdP Georgia does not provide housing, but our Motel to Home program can help with move-in costs once housing has been found.
We have limited funding in Fulton County, available only for rental assistance. There are income limits and clients cannot reside in the City of Atlanta.
Motel TO Home Caseworker Guide
The Model
Families living in extended stay motels face many barriers to stable housing. SVdP has partnered with the United Way of Greater Atlanta and several municipalities to provide Motel to Home participants with a way to overcome these barriers through:
- A year of one-to-one Case Management with a SVdP caseworker to help them obtain stable housing.
- Financial support for deposits and first month’s rent and the opportunity to obtain matching funds for savings accounts and job training to achieve a living wage.
- Education to give them skills to manage their personal finances, housing, career advancement, and personal development
The Process
Click on each step below to be directed to more details and resources.
- Referral Received
- Application Submitted
- Application Approved
- Establish a Connection
- ASSM and Client Goals
- Customize Client Curriculum
- Review Goals
- Review Budget
- Review Credit Score
- Review Savings
- Review Housing Readiness
- Set Goals
- Identify Monthly Income & Expenses
- Choose a Budgeting Method
- Set a Budget
- Set a Realistic Goal
- Savings Account and Matching Funds
- Ways to Find Money to Save
STEP 6: ASSESS HOUSING BARRIERS
- Eviction Debt
- Income
- Student Debt
- Credit Score
- How to Read Credit Report
- Counseling with MMI
- Report Errors and Rebuild Credit
- Eviction Debt
- Using Credit Wisely
- Court Ordered Child Support
- Basic Work Skills
- Side Gigs
- Work from Home
- Workforce Training & Education
STEP 9: CREATE A HOUSING PLAN
- Finding and Getting an Apartment
- Tenants Rights & Responsibilities
- Furniture
STEP 10: EXIT THE RELATIONSHIP
- Discuss Future Goals/Plans
- Connect to Resources
- Review Progress in Credit, Housing, Savings
- Celebrate Accomplishments with your Client
Eligibility Criteria for Financial Assistance
Motel to Home Program Counties
Funding for Motel to Home is currently available for the following 13 counties:
- Butts
- Cherokee
- Clayton
- Cobb
- Coweta
- DeKalb
- Douglas
- Fayette
- Fulton
- Gwinnett
- Henry
- Paulding
- Rockdale
Please answer the following questions to help you determine if you are eligible to be considered for financial assistance for the Motel 2 Home Program
- Do you have a child under 18 in the household?
- Do you currently live in any of the counties listed ?
- Do you have enough verifiable income coming into your household to meet rent and other household expenses? (Please note that income must be verified in writing through pay stubs, letters of employment, benefits letters, etc. in order for SVDP M2H to provide financial assistance.)
If you answered YES to ALL of the questions, then you may qualify for help. Please click the Motel to Home Application button below to apply.
