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Guidelines for Assistance

Midtown Assistance Center / Guidelines for Assistance

Need Help? Midtown Assistance Center is here for you!

We offer our neighbors in 14 zip codes access to emergency assistance services focused on preventing homelessness, hunger, and insecurity. MAC currently serves 14 zip codes in Atlanta for food, eviction prevention and utility disconnection prevention – 30303, 30306, 30308, 30309, 30310, 30311, 30312, 30313, 30314, 30315, 30318, 30324, 30331, and 30363.

*Other services are provided for unhoused clients as well and are not limited to zip codes.

Rent or Utility Assistance

Requirements
  • Must live within MAC’s service area 30303, 06, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 24, 31 and 63.
  • MAC does not provide move in rent assistance.
  • Client must be low-income qualifying at or below Gross Income 60% AMI. For more information on AMI please visit https://www.investatlanta.com/assets/2024_invest_atlanta_-_hud_income_limits_and_rents_JZnQjor.pdf
  • MAC does not assist in luxury rentals.
  • Must have at least a six (6) months unassisted 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.
  • 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.
Necessary Documents for Financial Assistance

ID

Social Security Card

Lease

Late notice or Letter from landlord documenting current rent status and amount owed. It must be signed, dated, and itemized.

Eviction Warrant (if you have one)

Proof of Income (Pay stubs from most recent 3 months of employment, bank statements with direct deposit, Dept. of Labor Wage Inquiry).

Money order or payment receipt for your funds toward the balance. All Money must be made payable to the landlord/company.

Additional documentation as needed to prove loss of income and/or emergency

Last 2 months full bank statements

You are eligible for food assistance up to four times a year, and no more than once every 30 days.

Requirements
  • Must substantiate need for assistance and live within zip codes served.
  • Must have ID and Address Verification (current lease, utility bill, or room receipt).
  • Must have applied for food stamps, or be willing to apply, before food will be given a second time.
Necessary Documents for Food Assistance

ID

Current lease, utility bill, or room receipt

Additional documentation as needed

Requirements
  • Must have verifiable, permanent employment and have not received first paycheck; for interviews must have written job search
  • MAC will assist with transportation to temporary jobs only if it can be confirmed as a long-term assignment or a temp-to-perm assignment
    Company must be a legitimate employer with a business phone
  • Must substantiate need for assistance and be homeless or live within zip codes served
  • MAC has a life-time maximum of 4 weekly Breeze cards or equivalent round-trip cards.
  • MAC provides MARTA until the first paycheck or maximum limit.
Necessary Documents for MARTA Assistance

ID

Documentation to verify employment

Assistance procuring work shoes and/or uniform pieces

Requirements
  • MAC will purchase select uniform or safety clothing items that are required for a new job.
  • You must have a new permanent position, full-time employment.
  • You must have documentation from your employer, on company letterhead, stating what type of work shoes or uniform clothing are necessary to begin employment.
  • This assistance is limited to unhoused individuals or housed in MAC’s 10 zip codes.

Appointments are required for assistance.

To begin the process for Non-Financial help with Food, MARTA for jobs/interviews, New Worker Clothing Support please fill out MAC’s Non-Financial Request Form.
REQUEST NON-FINANCIAL HELP
To begin the process for Financial Assistance with Rent and Utilities, please fill out the ARCHI application form.
We cannot guarantee your application will be matched with MAC.
REQUEST FINANCIAL HELP
If you are unable to complete the online form we do our best to help fill out requests by answering phone calls on our Assistance line Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM – 404-681-5777.