Since our founding, MAC has helped in over 157,000 emergency situations and provided over $9,300,000 of assistance to low-income families.  We aim to prevent homelessness, hunger, and insecurity through a variety of services.

Rent & Utility Assistance   |   Grocery Assistance   |   MARTA Assistance   |   Clothing Assistance   |   Georgia Identification Assistance   |   Referrals

Rent and Utility Assistance

MAC  provides assistance to low-income, working households that are in a temporary financial crisis. Our assistance works to prevent eviction and disconnection of electricity, gas, and water.  Please consult our qualifications below before applying or contacting MAC. We now take all rent and utility requests through the ARCHI application. https://archicollaborative.org/research-resources/help/

Qualifications for Rent & Utility Assistance

• Must live within MAC’s service area 30303, 08, 09, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18 and 63.
• Must have at least a six (6) months paid rental history at present residence for rent assistance, and three (3) months paid for utilities. MAC cannot assist with utilities at a previous address. MAC does not provide move in rent assistance.
• Must have a signed, legal lease in your name – no co-signer.
• For rental assistance, landlord must be a legitimate realty company registered with the GA Secretary of State – no private landlords.
• Assistance must guarantee at least 30 more days of residence (or utility service).
• Must be employed or recently unemployed (within 6 months.)
• Must be primary resident of the home in which rent/utility is being paid.
• You must apply as a household. Roommates or other family members cannot apply separately.
• You must demonstrate a current inability to pay your rent and/or utilities.
• Loss of income / emergency expenses must be relative to the amount requested.
• You must provide documents to verify your emergency and lack of financial resources.
• Clients are expected to pay as much as possible toward the rent or utility bill.
• For utility assistance the bill must be in your name, or the name of a member of the household.
• Must provide documentation that you have sufficient income to maintain rent/utility payments if MAC is able to help this time. MAC requires that your verifiable take home income is or was at least twice the monthly rent amount. For example, if your rent amount is $750/month, you would have to provide documentation that at some point take-home income was at least $1,500/month.
• MAC cannot assist with rent in student housing or government subsidized housing such as HUD, Atlanta Housing Authority or Section 8. We do not pay rent to other nonprofit agencies.
• Students must qualify based on their employment income. Your emergency cannot be based on school related expenses or funding.
• Must provide any additional documentation necessary to substantiate need for assistance (i.e. receipts from unexpected bills, police reports, doctor reports).
• All money is made payable to the landlord/company, never MAC or a third party.
• All financial cases must complete a Budget Analysis Form and sign a Consent to Release of Information.
• MAC cannot handle large balances. Applicant will need to have the balance through some means versus what MAC can assist with.

Documentation Needed for Rent & Utility Assistance

• Picture ID
• Social Security Card
• Eviction Notice (if under warrant)
• Letter from Landlord documenting current rent balance
• 3 months worth of pay stubs from employer
• Proof of loss of income and/or emergency situation
• Balance of the amount owed after our pledge
• Additional documentation as needed

Grocery Assistance

MAC has a food pantry that provides non-perishable food for households experiencing a temporary shortage. Even though MAC’s clients are below the poverty line, many are not eligible for food stamps and need help with putting food on the table. We provide grocery assistance to any housed residents of our service area up to four times per year.

Qualifications for Grocery Assistance

• Resident of one of the following zip codes: 30303, 30308, 30309, 30310 30312, 30313, 30314, 30315, 30318, 30363
• Must have applied for food stamps or willing to apply
• Must not be a resident of a transitional housing program
• Limited to four grocery appointments each calendar year

Documents Needed for Grocery Assistance

• Picture ID
• Proof of residence (i.e. utility bill, lease) or hotel/rooming house receipt

MARTA Assistance

MAC provides MARTA passes for people who are searching for employment or newly employed until they receive their first paycheck. We provide MARTA passes to both homeless and housed clients.

Qualifications for MARTA Assistance

• Must have verifiable, permanent employment
• Must substantiate need for assistance
• Must live within our zip codes served or have homeless verification
• Must provide employment start date, schedule, or pay date
• Must provide employer information with a business phone for verification

Documents Needed for MARTA Assistance

• Picture ID
• Written employment verification on company letterhead
• Employer contact information
• Official start date and first pay date

Clothing Assistance

MAC’s clothing closet provides men with interview and work outfits. MAC also purchases nonslip shoes and black pants for restaurant workers and steel-toed boot for construction workers.

Qualifications for Clothing Assistance

• Assistance with clothing must be employment related
• Must be actively looking for a job or employed
• Limit of three clothing appointments per year; must leave 30 days between clothing appointments

Documents Needed for Clothing Assistance

• Picture ID
• Interview/Employment verification
• For non-slip shoes or steel-toed boots: must provide written documentation of specific work clothing requirements

Georgia Identification Assistance

Without an ID, finding a job is nearly impossible. MAC provides vouchers for Atlanta residents to get a Georgia ID card for employment purposes.

Documents Needed for Georgia ID Assistance

• Original birth certificate and Social Security card
• Residential documents required by the DMV
• Lifetime limit of 1 ID

Referrals

When clients are ineligible for programs or are in need of more than MAC can provide, staff can refer clients to partner organizations in the Metro Atlanta area. Be sure to contact United Way at 211 to find a full list of resources for your specific need in your zip code.