Department of Community Affairs

State of Georgia
60 Executive Park South, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231
(404) 679-4940
September 1996

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs
The Department of Community Affairs (DCA) facilitates partnerships between state government, local governments and the private sector to create opportunities to improve the quality of life in Georgia.
Under the direction of the Commissioner, the Department serves as an advocate for local governments and provides planning, technical, and financial assistance to help local officials meet the challenging community and economic development needs of the future. DCA serves local governments in matters ofsocial, economic, human, and intergovernmental relations, as well as providing mediation, consultation and research servIces.
The Department also enables thousands of Georgians to afford safe, quality housing through homeless assistance, rental subsidies, housing development and home buying programs. Many ofthese programs are funded through the Georgia Housing and FinanceAuthority (GHFA), a public nonprofit corporation authorized to issue tax exempt bonds to finance mortgage loans for affordable housing. The Department administers the programs of GHFA.
Organizational Structure
The Board ofCommunityAffairs establishes the overall goals and policies ofthe Department. The Board (appointed by the Governor) is composed of one member from each congressional district in the state and five additional members from the state at-large. The Board of Community Affairs also serves as the Board of GHFA.

Members may include elected local government officials and individuals with an interest or expertise in community or economic development, environmental issues, and housing development or finance. This cross-section of local leadership represents a commitment by the Department of Community Affairs to provide those services most needed by Georgia's local governments and communities. The Department itself is staffed by more than 250 professionals in six operating divisions, five regional offices, and the Executive Office.
Executive Office
The Executive Office carries out Board of Community Affairs policy directives and manages agency personnel and resources. The Commissioner is selected by the Board and serves as the Department's Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The Commissioner also serves as the Executive Director of GHFA for bond Issumg purposes.
The Executive Office is responsible for intergovernmental and legislative relations and provides general policy guidance to the various operating divisions.
Accounting, Audits, and Administration Division
This division provides administrative support to the Department. Its functions include budget, payrOll, accounting, procurement, telecommunications, space management, and personnel. The division also administers the Local Development Fund, which provides state matching funds for local government community

improvement activities, as well as several other government grant assistance programs. The Division conducts performance audits of Regional Development Centers (RDCs) and performs compliance activities associated with the Home Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program, Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program, and the FDIC's Affordable Housing Disposition Program, as well as various grants processing and monitoring activities.
Business and Financial Assistance Division
This division administers community and economic development grant and loan programs and provides financial packaging assistance to small business. Among the grant programs is the state administered Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, which includes the Employment Incentive Program (EIP), as well as other competitive and need-based programs. This division also manages the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Grant Program, the ARC Revolving Loan Fund, and the State Job Tax Credit Program; provides technical assistance concerning applicable laws and regulations to participants in the loan and grant programs; administers the Empowerment Zone/ Enterprise Community (EZlEC) Program; the Business Retention and Expansion Process (BREP); and the Regional Economic Business Assistance (REBA) grant program. In addition, the division oversees the Incentives Loans for Industry program and the Loans for Rural Industry program. Finally, the division provides general technical assistance to local governments, industrial development authorities and other public and private organizations.

Housing Finance Division
The Housing Finance Division administers state and federally funded and regulated affordable housing initiatives. This division administers the day-to-day loan processing functions of the Georgia Housing and Finance Authority and assists with the issuance of tax-exempt bonds to finance single family and multifamily mortgage loans. The division conservatively manages a $60 million general fund, fixed income portfolio and maintains GHFA's Standard & Poor's Top Tier status and Moody's AA rating.
The division offers qualified first time home buyers low interest loans and down payment assistance in conjunction with participating mortgage lenders statewide through the Home Buyer Program and the Own HOME Program.
The division's affordable multifamily housing programs encourage low income residential rental development, both new construction and rehabilitation, through a combination of public and private financing resources, including Home Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program funds, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, and Georgia Housing Trust Fund monies.
The division is the state's participating jurisdiction for the purposes of the HOME program. The division also administers federally funded Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act programs, which aids homeless shelters and service agencies; and administers the Georgia Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless programs, which assist homeless emergency shelters, transitional housing and residential facilities for homeless persons with special needs.

Research and Information Division
The Research and Information Division is responsible for the Department's information services which include computer and network technical support, database development and maintenance, graphical layout assistance, surveys of local governments, and statewide geographic information system development. The division also provides training and assistance to RDCs in the development and submission of local land use and community facilities data. Related functions include serving as an information "clearinghouse" and an initial point of contact within state government for information, data resources, and assistance regarding community needs.
The division also serves a research and analysis function for the Department and General Assembly by preparing fiscal notes on proposed legislation financially impacting local governments, staffing the Georgia Future Communities Commission, producing County and City Snapshots, conducting research on topics ofparticular importance and relevance,and writing special reports. This division also oversees the Department's public information responsibilities.
The division administers the Georgia Clean and Beautiful Program, and is also the lead agency in state government for solid waste public education and the state's recycling and waste reduction efforts, and is partially responsible for managing and implementing the state solid waste plan. These latter responsibilities include training and educating teachers, public officials, and the. general public on source reduction methods; developing planning standards; to govern the preparation oflocal solid waste and review plans;

and providing solid waste technical assistance to local governments.
Planning and Management Division
This division is responsible for a wide range of activities, among which is the implementation of the Georgia Planning Act of 1989, also known as the Growth Strategies Law. Responsibilities include developing minimum planning standards and procedures for local and regional comprehensive plans; providing training and educational materials to local governments and RDCs on the coordinated planning process; assisting the Governor's Development Council in developing a plan based on regional and local plans; overseeing Georgia's industrialized building program and uniform construction codes; and mediating inteIjurisdictional conflicts. It also entails monitoring developments of regional impact and coordinating the designation of regionally important resources in the state.
ill addition, the division provides direct technical assistance to city and county governments in solving operational problems and improving overall management systems. This includes both on-site assistance and training in the areas of personnel administration, computer management, law enforcement,jail management, public works, and governmental organization.
This division also manages the Local Government Efficiency Grant Program, which is designed to encourage the consolidation of governmental units and services. Finally, the division provides staff support to the Music Hall of Fame Authority and the Sports Hall of Fame Authority.

Rental Assistance Division
This division administers the federal Section 8 Existing Housing Assistance Program, which provides low income families with affordable, safe, quality rental housing. This U.S. Department ofHousing and Urban Development (HUD) funded program is administered by DCA in 149 of Georgia's 159 counties through five regional offices. The regional offices are located in Albany, Athens, Carrollton, Eastman and Waycross. The program provides rent subsidies on behalf of very low income families and individuals to participating landlords who agree to maintain their rental properties to the required Housing Quality Standards. In the remaining ten counties, local housing authorities directly administer Section 8 subsidies. The program has in excess of 10,000 assisted families under contract and an annual budget of $40 million. It is staffed by approximately 75 workers, most of whom work in the field.
In addition, the division operates the Family SelfSufficiency (FSS) Program, an effort to reduce the dependency of rental assistance participants on public support. The FSS Program leverages public and private sector resources to provide education, counseling, and other supportive services to help residents become independent. The program features job training and job placement assistance; child care and transportation support services or referrals; counseling to overcome alcohol and drug dependencies, low self-esteem or emotional problems; as well as counseling on topics such as child rearing, money management, and homeownership.

Board of Community Affairs
Glenda Battle Decatur County Commissioner
Lawrence L. Bennett Hawkinsville City Commission Chair
Joyce R. Blevins McDuffie County Commission Chair
Roger Boatright Mayor, City ofAlma
Millard Bowen Bowen & Bowen Construction, Inc. of Duluth
Weyman E. Cannington, Jr. Mayor, City of Lumpkin Roy F. Chalker, Jr.
Chalker Publishing Co. of Waynesboro
Napoleon Fielder Rome City Commissioner
Dan Hammack Sowega Contracting Company in Edison
Joseph B. Jones, II Lumpkin County Commissioner
Manuel Maloof Retired of Decatur
Lamar Norton Georgia Power Company
Howard T. Pendleton City of Columbus Job Training Director
Helen Preston Tapp Council for Quality Growth, Inc., of Gwinnett

Rental Assistance Division Regional Offices

Northwest Regional Office 103 Parkwood Circle Carollton, Georgia 30117 (770) 836-6660

Northeast Regional Office Newton Bridge Road, Suite 2 Athens, Georgia 30607 (706) 369-5636

Southwest Regional Office 323 Pine Avenue, Suite 202 Albany, Georgia 31701 (912) 430-4117

Southeast Regional Office Y60-A City Boulevard Waycross, Georgia 31501 (912) 285-6280

Middle Georgia Regional Office 503 Oak Street, N.W.
Eastman, Georgia 31023 (912) 374-6961

Department of Community Affairs Division Directory
Executive Office
Jim Higdon, Commissioner (404) 679-4940
Terry Ball, Executive Assistant (404) 679-0569
Bobby Stevens, Special Assistant (404) 679-4943
Accounting, Audits, & Administration Division
Tim Connell, Director (404) 679-0600
Office ofAudits and Compliance Tim Kirkpatrick (404) 679-3126
Office ofAccounting and Budget Larry Travis
(404) 679-3129 Office ofPersonnel
Jacqueline Byers (404) 679-3137 Office ofAdministrative Operations Raymond Noel (404) 679-0623
Business and Financial Assistance Division
Chantal Matthews, Director (404) 679-3164
Office ofEconomic Development Brian Williamson (404) 679-1587
Office ofGrant Administration Susan McGee (404) 679-3176

Housing Finance Division
David Pinson, Director (404) 679-4840
Office of Single Family Housing Robin Meyer (404) 679-4846
Office ofMultifamily Housing Reginald Penn (404) 679-4848
Research and Infonnation Division
Paul Radford, Director (404) 679-4950
Office ofResearch andAnalysis Anne Lockwood (404) 679-4937
Office ofInformation Services Tim Bauer
(404) 679-4939 Office ofWaste Management
Leamon Scott (404) 679-4816
Planning and Management Division
Rick Brooks, Director (404) 679-4957
Office ofCoordinated Planning Mike Gleaton (404) 679-3107
Office ofRural Development Winfred Owens (404) 679-4859
Rental Assistance Division
Ken Cook, Director (404) 679-5273
Office ofProgram Quality Control DaveCrum
(404) 679-0650 Office ofProgram Design and Operations
Deborah Lott (404) 679-0661

DCA Affiliated Authorities, Boards, Commissions and Organizations
The Department of Community Affairs is associated with and provides adminstrative support to the following state authorities, boards, commissions, and organizations:
Georgia Commission for National and Community Service
Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority Georgia Music Hall of Fame Authority Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Authority GHFA Affordable Housing, Inc.
GHFA Economic Development Financing, Inc. Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation, Inc. State Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless Commission