FreeRent Atlanta Grant

An annual grant providing up to 12 months of rental assistance plus wraparound support services for hardworking families in Atlanta experiencing unexpected hardship.

Mission: FreeRent.Org provides rental assistance and wraparound services that offer families a pathway to financial stability, focusing on working households struggling to get ahead due to unforeseen hardship.

Geographic Scope

• Service Area: Within the City of Atlanta limits only

Target Population

Who is this for?

• Hardworking families in the City of Atlanta experiencing unexpected hardship (medical emergency, car repairs, family emergency, etc.)
• Families ready to commit to partnership and fostering growth for long-term financial stability

Eligibility Requirements

Minimum Eligibility Criteria:

• Location: Have an active lease within the City of Atlanta limits
• Income: Household income is 80% HUD Area Median Income or lower
• Employment: At least one adult employed full-time
• Housing Costs: No more than 50% of monthly income towards housing costs
• Hardship: Experienced a recent, unexpected hardship (medical expenses, family crisis, natural disaster)
• Commitment: Selected participants commit to actively engaging in FreeRent's financial education and savings programs
• Savings Goal: Agreement to save at least three months of housing costs during the program (rent and other fixed living expenses)
• Participation: Willingness to set quarterly financial and personal goals and participate in financial education programming

What Recipients Receive

• Rental assistance for up to 12 months
• Financial education and workshops
• Regular goal-setting and check-ins
• Referrals to community resources
• Wealth Building Rewards access with savings incentives

Impact

A hand-up for families that promotes long-term financial stability, helping them first stabilize and then build a strong financial future through a personalized support plan. Vision: Building generational wealth and giving every family the chance to breathe, reset, rebuild, and create a path for their future.

Background

• Since founding, FreeRent has helped over 200 individuals from across 80 families stay housed and achieve long-term financial stability

Contact Information

• Email: ATL@freerent.org
• Website: freerent.org

Application Process

Timeline Overview:

1. Step 1: Open Nominations - Families can self-nominate or be nominated by neighbors, community leaders, employers, or service providers
2. Step 2: Minimum Eligibility Screening - Self-nominees complete a brief screening covering location, lease, income, and employment information. Nominees by others receive an email to complete the same screening questions
3. Step 3: Full Application - Nominees verified to meet minimum eligibility criteria receive email with full application
4. Step 4: Interviews - Finalists selected from applications; asked to join a 30-minute staff interview and a 30-minute panel interview with FreeRent.Org leadership
5. Step 5: Soft Credit & Background Checks - With consent, soft credit pull (no score impact) and background check of finalists to support program goals and final evaluation
6. Step 6: Recipients Announced - Final program selection and announcement of recipients in January 2027 for program start date of February 2028

Nomination Period:

• Nominations open October 31 – November 14 annually
• Next application cycle: October 2026

Required Materials/Supporting Documents

Applicants will submit:

• Lease agreement
• Rent ledger
• Income verification
• Hardship documentation
• Monthly budget
• 90-second video introducing themselves and their goals for the program

Application Methods

• Self-Nomination: Complete eligibility questionnaire form at application portal
• Third-Party Nomination: Complete nomination form for someone else
• Live Information Session: Webinar available to walk through eligibility, timeline, required documents, and evaluation process with Q&A