Emergency Housing for Homeless Families

Images of the homeless in the 1980's found individuals sleeping in cardboard boxes or on park benches.  This state of homelessness was attributed to the deinstitutionalization movement of the 1970's.  Today's face of homelessness is just as likely to be that of a family sleeping in a car or moving form place to place. sleeping on the floor at the home of relatives, friends or strangers.  The lack of availability of affordable housing and the declining purchase power of low-wage jobs have created the fastest growing segment of the homeless population-families.

In 1996 the Mayor and Board of City Commissioners instructed City staff to research and begin addressing local homelessness.  As a result our local government has taken the lead to address the needs of homeless individuals and families.  The homeless initiative includes:  Intake/assessment of homeless persons, referrals and coordination, Emergency and Transitional Housing for Homeless Families Program, staffing of the local homeless coalition or continuum or care, community education homelessness and poverty, and an HMS (Homeless Management Information System).

The City of Albany, Department of Community and Economic Development Homeless Program provides emergency shelter and support services to homeless families.  The emergency shelter program is a short term temporary housing facility that allows families who find themselves homeless, the opportunity to seek permanent housing.  Financial counseling is provided through this program.  Applications for Emergency Housing for Homeless Families can be downloaded from this site or picked up from:

Transitional Housing Office
1400 S. Jefferson Street, Albany, Georgia 31701
(229) 435-8870 or (229) 435-8871
Monday-Friday 10:00 am- 2:00pm

Pre-Screening Application (PDF)
Family Consent Form

For other available shelters, please call:

For other available shelters, please call:

Georgia Alliance To End Homelessness
Toll Free Homeless Help Line
1-877-540-4671