Georgia residents scramble for housing as eviction protections run out

WHITFIELD COUNTY, Ga. — In Georgia, the Cares Act was protecting renters with federal backed mortgages from being evicted. But those protections expired on July 25th.

Since then, thousands have been in a scramble to figure out what the next step is for their housing amid the pandemic.

Amanda Connell with the Georgia Legal Service Project says that after that date of July 25th, landlords had to provide 30 days notice under the Cares Act before they can evict. Those 30 days expired August 24th.

To extend the process, a tenant can file an action in court. If they do that, they will go in front of a judge. If the judge sides with the landlord, the tenant has seven days to move out - or the landlord can get a dispossessory warrant and have the tenant removed by a deputy.

We are now a week into the period where evictions can take place with the expiring Care Act, and Connell says her office has seen an uptick in housing cases.

Michael Griffin was in Whitfield County Court today to have his eviction notice heard in front of a judge. Griffin says he hasn’t paid rent in two months because of a living conditions dispute between himself and his landlord.

The eviction notice caught Griffin by surprise, but the Dalton resident says he is prepared to leave the property if he gets his deposit back, or the landlord gives him 30 days to leave.

Connell says there’s a way to avoid all of this.

The Tender Defense allows for a tenant to provide the rent that’s due plus court costs to the landlord within the seven days' notice. If that is completed, then the eviction is dropped.

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