Athens, GA Affordable Housing ORDINANCE PETITION
Housing is a human right and we must act accordingly!
Athens has a housing crisis like many other places across the country. Uncontrolled rent hikes, vanishing access to housing for ordinary and marginalized people, inequitable zoning law applications and lack of policy guardrails are making housing protections more urgent than ever.
As we continue to move forward towards a better future and prosperity for all, let us be reminded that our continued inaction and bare minimum low hanging fruit responses will continue to deepen the hole we all should want to climb out of. We are asking like minded residents and organizations in Athens, GA to make a commitment to ensuring the policies presented in this document are passed and enforced at the state and local levels.
● Rent control
● Source of income non-discrimination
● Criminal history non-discrimination
● Zoning changes i.e. Overlay districts
● Inclusionary Zoning
● Expanding the Homestead Exemption for seniors at a certain income level
These things should not be considered radical or controversial. To undo historical harms we need policies that set us on a path to course correct.
We the people would love to have a certain number of signatures in each of the 10 commission districts in Athens-Clarke County. We humbly ask that you sign this petition and share it with at minimum 5 of your neighbors. Together we can address this housing crisis. Be mindful that we may have to come to collect a wet signature on paper if the local government requires it for the petition to be accepted by them.
Please see the attached links to read the proposed policy ideas. There are two versions of the document. One in legal terms and jargon and one in plain language so everyone who is literate can understand. Be on the lookout for the Spanish and audio versions of this document and the ordinances. Click below to get started.
