ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — Hundreds of families in Dougherty County face potential homelessness as Emergency Housing Vouchers are set to end June 30, 2026.

The program, created during the pandemic under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, has not received extended funding. More than 300 families in Dougherty County rely on the vouchers to afford housing.

Cammie Thompson moved to Albany from Miami about four years ago to care for her father. With no family in the area, she depends on the voucher to afford her home with her two boys.

“I don’t have no family here. Nobody. So if I lose this right now, we’re going to be homeless. We’re going to lose everything we got,” Thompson said.

Impact on students

The end of the program could worsen student homelessness in the county. More than 650 students in Dougherty County are currently identified as homeless, according to recent school system data.

|READ MORE: Over 650 children identify as homeless in Dougherty County, district data shows|

“I’m trying to calm them down—and also trying to keep my sanity too—because it’s a lot,” Thompson said about managing her children’s concerns.

State response efforts

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs is working to help affected families by allocating additional funding to expand its Housing Navigation Program. The program helps families find affordable housing or maintain stability. The department has also created a webpage dedicated to the EHV sunset.

Cheryl Calhoun, an EHV housing navigator with the Department of Community Affairs, covers nine counties and serves over 500 families total.

“It’s over 300 here in Dougherty County—and about 500 total. I had over 400 clients come into my office just to apply,” Calhoun said.

Calhoun said families were told the funding would last until 2030, but federal funds have been exhausted.

“We received notice that the federal funds are gone. There’s no additional money to keep funding these families. I don’t know what resource can house a family of eight and help pay that rent—and this mother works. This isn’t someone just sitting at home,” Calhoun said.

Calhoun was homeless when she moved from Florida to Albany in 2006. The community helped her get back on her feet, and she said she hopes the same can be done for families like Thompson’s.

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs is holding a public meeting at Greater Cutliff Grove Baptist Church in Albany Wednesday, Feb. 4, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

The church is located at 835 West Broad Avenue, Albany.

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