Tis the season: Housing insecurity crisis supersedes holidays for many in Georgia

Written by: Monica DeLancy of We Thrive at Riverside Drive

The rental conditions and housing insecurity crisis have taken precedence over the holiday season for many individuals and families. As concerns about affordable housing, evictions, and rental affordability persist, the festive spirit is overshadowed by the pressing need for stable and secure housing.

With the holiday season in full gear, various nonprofits are passing out turkeys and handing out toys to needy families. As these donations are being given out to bless families, corporate landlords are filing evictions on families and senior citizens while pushing out organizations who are demanding renters’ rights, safe, healthy, and stable housing, education enrichment opportunities, and healthcare for all. As these issues swirl around us, the route to home ownership is becoming increasingly impossible for many families.

We must take a stand and join together to demand that everyone is treated fairly, with dignity, and not threatened. Yes, it’s great to give out turkeys but what is a turkey going to do for a family that does not have a working stove?

How does a turkey handout prevent snakes from crawling through broken windows after landlords refuse to make repairs or cut the grass where they dwell? What can you do with a free turkey when families are forced to sleep in their cars? Likewise, what are toys going to do for families who are forced to move and are seeking housing? What are turkeys, baby dolls, or toy trucks going to do for these families that have no place to live?
 
Yes, for a brief moment, bellies may be full, and kids may have a moment to play with their toys, but what happens the day after? 

As we enter another holiday season, discussions about housing policies and long-term solutions continue to be juxtaposed against eviction courts filled again with Black and Brown families pleading for decent housing. These same people are also asking our schools to partner with community organizations and be intentional about serving the community, which many say they are not. 

Phone calls to many elected officials and civic organizations in an attempt to get their attention on these critical issues will continue to go unanswered.

That same nonprofit that eagerly gives out turkeys and toys will choose to have low to no participation in this unyielding conversation. Elected officials will set up cursory meetings that will lead to other meetings that lead to nowhere. This will not be on their radar screen as they start campaigning for the 2024 election season. And for regular people, they will be in their work institutions and corporations talking about their job protection, with the housing insecurities that others suffer not a blip on their radar screen. 

As for impacted residents of our community, they will continue to go to low-paying jobs or wait on their income tax checks to pay their rent. While promising that they will try to attend meetings to speak out about this issue, many are quietly preparing to go back to eviction court while simultaneously trying to find a place to move to.

Some will wait on a Section 8 voucher like it is a Willy Wonka golden ticket while waiting for the only thing the government can give – as long as you qualify – which is SNAP benefits, which you cannot use to pay your rent, but some may use for bartering purposes.

In conclusion, I urge you to stop being distracted by turkeys and cheap toys. We need all community partners to stay alert, and keep your pedal on the gas. This is a marathon, and we need everyone to be all in on this issue. 

Monica DeLancy, Founder – We Thrive at Riverside Drive

Monica DeLancy is recognized within the South Cobb community as an advocate for Renters, using her voice to address the challenges associated with the cost of rent, particularly its impact on single-income households, women with children, and senior citizens. Through her advocacy work, she has become a dedicated spokesperson, drawing attention to the struggles faced by these vulnerable groups in the context of rising rental expenses. Her efforts involve raising awareness, engaging with elected officials and community members, and advocating for policies that address the specific concerns of renters, with a focus on those who are disproportionately affected by the financial burden of housing costs.