Chart/Help Orgs (Georgia)

Home Georgia Landlord/Tenant

Animals	Media/Consumer Watch Groups
Finding An Apartment	Help with Rent, Utilities, Food, Clothing & Transportation
Discrimination	Parks
Graffiti	Roommate Problems
Health & Safety/Nuisances	Streets
Housing Code Violations	Transportation
Legal Advice	For More Help

Apartment Locator Services

http://www.knowatlanta.com/Default.html
Find out about Apartment Locator Services, Apartments, Banking & Financial, Corporate Apartments Domestic Services, Education, Employment Services, Full Service Relocation Companies , Health Care, Home Furnishings, Hotels, Insurance Internet Service Providers, Transportation and more.

A&A Apartment Locators (770) 394-2088
Free service that helps renters find apartments quickly and without the hassle. Just plug in the things you're looking for such as desired location, maximum rent, number of bedrooms, etc. and their database will pull up apartment complexes that fit the bill.

For Other Apartment Locators, search the Phone Book and Internet.

Discrimination
If you think the landlord has denied you housing/ or discriminated against you on the basis of Race, Color, Religion, Sex, National Origin, Family Status or Disability, Call:

The Fair Housing Enforcement Center U.S. Department Of Housing & Urban Development (404) 331-5140 or (800) 440-8091

The Georgia Commission On Equal Opportunity (404) 656-7708 For Housing Discrimination Complaints.

Metro Fair Housing Services (404) 765-3940
For help preparing a housing related complaint i.e. for discrimination against the handicapped.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (800) 669-9777

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Graffiti

Keep America Beautiful (Atlanta Office)
may have some helpful programs or suggestions.

Lighting Up for Crime Prevention (HTML)
See right hand side Table of Contents. Outlines the frameworks in which lighting is used to prevent crime, presents key questions to help assess lighting needs, presents evidence of lighting's impact, and suggests numerous resources.

Neighborhood Watch Gets Residents Prepared
See right hand side Table of Contents. Provides residents with the information they need to strengthen their communities and effectively prevent and respond to the threats of terrorism, crime, or any kind of disaster through a Neighborhood Watch Program.

Nuisances, Health & Safety

Find Your City's Municipal Codes
Learn how your city code treats, garbage, nuisance and safety hazards. If you can't find your city, follow their links to other code sites that can help you.

How Do I ........ (City Of Atlanta)
Report a nuisance or garbage problem, water & sewage leaks, look up city ordinances, obtain a building permit, pay traffic tickets, etc.

Bureau Of TaxiCabs&Vehicles For Hire (404) 658-7600
To Complaint about taxicabs, their fares, horn honking, etc.

Dekalb County Board Of Health (404) 294-3700 or (404) 371-2000

Fulton County Health Department (404) 730-1211

The Atlanta Housing Authority (404) 330-6250
For abandoned housing, deteriorating structures.

Animals & Rabies Control (404)794-0358

Atlanta Sanitation Department (404) 523-0632
Picks up dead animals on every day but Sunday.

Public Works (404) 730-7400
Potholes and health hazards.

Housing Code Violations

Find Your City's Municipal Codes
Learn how your city code treats, garbage, nuisance and safety hazards. If you can't find your city, follow their links to other code sites that can help you.

How Do I ........ (City Of Atlanta)
Report a nuisance or garbage problem, water & sewage leaks, look up city ordinances, obtain a building permit, pay traffic tickets, etc.

Atlanta Planning And Development (404) 330-6190
To report deteriorated, dilapidated, or vacant residential buildings or houses inside of I. 285. Complaints may range from peeling paint and junked cars to structural problems. A resident of the neighborhood may register a complaint and request that the building be inspected. If cited, the owner must make repairs or face fines or other sanctions. Relevant City of Atlanta Code Sections include: 8-2087, 8-2091, 8-2092, 8-2094, 8-2100.4, 17-9013.

Dekalb Planning And Development (404) 371-2776
To report deteriorated, dilapidated, or vacant residential buildings or houses. Complaints may range from peeling paint and junked cars to structural problems. A resident of the neighborhood may register a complaint and request that the building be inspected. If cited, the owner must make repairs or face fines or other sanctions.

Legal

Georgia Legal Service Landlord Tenant Helpline
(404) 463-1596 or (800) 369-4706
Leave a message after the recording and someone will call you back. Best to explain your problem in three or four sentences. Upon request, they will send you a free booklet with answers to the most common questions.

www.badlandlords.info/rds.info/ (Includes GA)
Has help resources for 31 states, i.e. where to report your landlord and where to get free legal help. Also has links to each state's landlord/tenant laws.

Georgia Law Center For The Homeless (404) 681-0680
100 Edgewood Avenue , Suite1625, Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Free civil legal services for low income individuals about to be evicted. With several lawyers on staff, they can represent you in court or refer your case to other attorneys.

Atlanta Legal Aid (404) 524-5811

Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (404) 521-0790

Metro Fair Housing Services (404) 765-3940
For help preparing a housing related complaint i.e. for discrimination against the handicapped.

For More Help See Lawyers, Courts & Self Help

Parks

Dept. Of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs (404) 817-6751 Reporting prohibited activities such as driving across the grounds, being in the park after designated hours, playing loud music, hanging unproved advertisements. Illegal activity should also be reported to the police. Relevant City Of Atlanta Code Sections include: 10-2001, 10-2020, 17-10001, 17-10005.

Rent, Utilities, Transportation,Food+Clothing
Fulton County
Dekalb County
Gwinnett County
Other

Fulton County

Midtown Assistance Center (404) 681-5777 or (404) 681-0470 Founded in 1986 as a collaborative effort of five Midtown churches, this volunteer-driven assistance center has helped more than 29,000 people pay their rent, mortgage, utilities, transportation, food and clothing. To qualify you must live in an area with one of the following Zip Codes: 30303, 30308, 30309, 30313.

Fulton Atlanta Community Action Auth. 404-320-0166
May ask you to check other sources first and then get back to them if the other sources can't come through with all the money.
Located at 1690 Chantilly Dr. Atlanta, GA.

Buckhead Christian Ministry (404)239-0038
Hours: 10am-4:30pm Mon-Fri.

St.Vincent de Paul Society, Inc.(770)458-9607 ext100
Open Monday through Friday 8:30-5pm.
For Utility Assistance and maybe more.

The Sullivan Center (404) 753-0535
Open 9-11 am or 2-3 pm.
Will provide financial assistance to those who attend a 4 day long financial planning class. To qualify you must provide documentation such as your Social Security Card, proof of income, lease, mortgage, utility cut-off notice, letter from landlord or eviction notice.

The Salvation Army (404) 352-3597
Hours: Call on Monday 9 am sharp to reserve appt.
Assists with past due rent and past due utilities. They usually don't handle mortgages but you never know until you ask.

Toco Hills/St Bartholomews, Church (404) 634-3336
Hours: Monday-Friday 1-4pm.
1790 Lavista Rd NE, Atlanta, GA

Community Action Center (404) 256-4912
471 MT. Vernon.

North Fulton Community Charities (770) 640-0399
For Roswell and Alpharetta only.

Ben Hill United Methodist Church (404)344-0618
2099 Fairburn Road SW. Atlanta, GA 30331.

Atlanta Urban Ministry (404)875-3556
Assistance for the following Zip Codes only:
30306. 30307, 30308, 30309 and 30312.

Atlanta Urban League (404)659-1150

Cascade United Methodist Church (404)691-5770

Family Life Ministries (404) 761-6302

United Way Help Line 211 or 404-614-1000
Scroll down for links on utility help groups or get a live operator, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Ask for places in your area that help with rent, utilities, etc.

Dekalb County

Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church 404-261-4292
Helps out with rent, utilities, transportation and other needs for
those in financial trouble. For specifics click Here

Dekalb Economic Opportunity Association (404) 292-2166
Non-profit organization that offers one-time emergency assistance to pay for rent, food, clothing, light and gas.

Supervisor: Francis Harmon.

The Salvation Army (770) 386-6256
Assists with past due rent and past due utlities. They usually don't handle mortgages but you never know until you ask.

St. Vincent de Paul Society, Inc.(770) 458-9607 ext100
Open Monday through Friday 8:30-5pm.
For Utility Assistance and maybe more.

Toco Hills/St Bartholomews, Church (404) 634-3336
Hours: Monday-Friday 1-4pm.
1790 Lavista Rd NE, Atlanta, GA

United Way Help Line 211 or 404-614-1000
Get a live operator, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Ask for places in your area that help with rent, utilities, etc.

Gwinnett

Gwinnett County Utilities (Free Help)
Enter in the word "electric" and then click "Go".

Other

United Way Help Line 211 or 404-614-1000
Get a live operator, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Ask for places in your area that help with rent, utilities, etc.

St. Vincent de Paul Society, Inc. (770) 458-9607
Open Monday through Friday 8:30-5pm.
For Utility Assistance and maybe more.

The Salvation Army (770) 386-6256
Assists with past due rent and past due utilities. They usually don't handle mortgages but you never know until you ask.

Help Line Georgia: (800) 338-6745
Comprehensive referral service open 24 hours a day 7 days a week for help throughout Georgia. They can put you in touch with agencies dealing with alcohol, drug and gambling addictions, domestic violence and sexual assault.

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Roommate Problems

www.nolo.com
Offers ways to cope with a variety of roommate related problems.

*Collecting Your Deposit When You Leave But Your Roommate Remains (GA)

Streets

How Do I ........ (City Of Atlanta)
Report a nuisance or garbage problem, water & sewage leaks, look up city ordinances, obtain a building permit, pay traffic tickets, etc.

Bureau of Highways and Streets (404) 330-6245
For potholes and other street repairs.

Public Works (404) 730-7400
To report broken street lights, sloppy bus shelters and sidewalk and street problems. Note that owners of property are the ones responsible for keeping those sidewalks clean of debris, dirt, trash, snow, ice, and keeping sidewalks in a passable condition. Relevant Atlanta City Code Sections include: 9-3004, 9-30016, 9-3086, 9-3089, 9-6008.

Department Of Traffic And Transportation (404) 330-6255
Contact them if you think lowing the speed limit in a particular street will increase safety. They can recommend to City Council that the speed limit for that street be reduced.

Media/Consumer Watch Groups

Involving The Media And Consumer Watch Groups

If the law will not address your wrong, sometimes you can still win in the court of public opinion. This may require that you involve the media and consumer watch groups. REMEMBER, bad press hurts business and may even prompt lawmakers to pass new legislation to help others in your situation.

When talking to the media, make your plight a human interest story. Explain how your problem affects: safety, business, the city's image, the homeless, crime, drug use, widows, orphans, children, the disabled, the elderly, the economy, the environment, the insane, immigrants, the illiterate, race relations, tourism, violence, the state and federal budget, health, disease, safety...etc.

Give the reporter the names and numbers of other victims (first get their permission) and have these people call in with similar stories. Also provide the reporter/agency with a list of names and phone numbers so that he can interview the landlord, the management company and its agents. Make it so the reporter can write your story without ever leaving his chair.

If you receive a positive response, send it immediately to each and every other agency/newspaper. The more support you have the more likely you will be taken seriously. Watch your cause build momentum as these groups feed off one another and people jump on the bandwagon. Lastly, write your state senator/house representative to pass legislation to stop this terrible wrong. Send a brief cover letter explaining your situation and how it effects others. Also enclose favorable responses from the media and other agencies.

Atlanta Journal/Constitution

Find Your Local Newspaper, Magazine, Radio & TV Stations
Trouble getting the government to act on your behalf? Give them a little bad press and you're bargaining power increases tremendously. Select your state, and then click on your county or city for the proper media to report to. (DC Not Included).

Channel 11/WXIA Call For Action (678) 422-8466

WSB Consumer Action Center (404) 892-8227

Creative Loafing

The Wheel (Emory Student Newspaper)

The Signal (GA State Student Newspaper)

Clark Howard 92.7 Fm (Consumer Talk Radio)

Any Local TV Station

American Association Of Retired Persons (404) 888-0077

Consumer Federation Of America

Transportation

Department Of Transportation (DOTs)(50 States, Not DC)
For help with car related issues ie, car damaged caused by pavement, unsafe streets, traffic, bridges and roads, etc.

Bureau Of TaxiCabs&Vehicles For Hire (404) 658-7600
To Complaint about taxicabs, their fares, horn honking, etc.

Commute Connections (877) 433-3463
This free service links you up with a car or vanpool in your area. They seek to reduce traffic congestion by making it faster, cheaper and less stressful for you to get to work or day care. Ask for their list of carpooling tips for joining and participating in a safe, reliable car or vanpool.

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