Facing Eviction? What to Know Before, During and After
If you're worried about making rent, have received an eviction notice or have already had to leave your home, figuring out what to do next can feel overwhelming.
That's why Circles Cobb created Eviction Stories & Steps — a video series featuring people who have experienced eviction themselves, along with community professionals who can help explain the process, the warning signs and resources that may be available.
Start Here: Eviction Stories & Steps
This short introduction explains why we created the series, what you'll hear from the people who participated and how we hope these stories and resources can help.
As you use this guide, start by asking:
Where am I in the process right now?
BEFORE: You're struggling to pay rent or worried you may fall behind.
DURING: You've received a demand, eviction notice or court paperwork.
AFTER: You've had to leave your home or an eviction has already occurred.
Wherever you are in that process, there's something we want you to know first.
National Resources: Find Help Where You Live
This whole article has info included for our Cobb County / Greater Atlanta Area / Georgia residents. Not in Cobb County or Georgia?
Housing assistance, eviction procedures and tenant protections vary by state and community, but there are national resources that can help you find local assistance where you live.
Call 211
211 connects people across the United States with local community resources, including help with rent, utilities, housing, food, transportation and other basic needs.
Call 211 to speak with a community resource specialist, or search online by location to find services available near you.
Find Free or Low-Cost Legal Help
Eviction laws and court procedures vary by state, so legal help in your own community can be especially important.
The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) funds independent civil legal aid organizations across the United States. Its online locator can help you find a legal aid provider serving your area.
You can also use LawHelp.org to find legal information, nonprofit legal aid programs and other resources by state.
Find Shelter and Homelessness Resources
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers a national Find Shelter tool that can help you locate shelters, food pantries, health clinics and other community resources.
HUD can also help connect people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness with local Continuum of Care providers.
Search HUD's Find Shelter Tool
Talk to a HUD-Approved Housing Counselor
HUD-approved housing counselors can provide individualized guidance about rental housing, eviction, landlord-tenant disputes, budgeting and other housing concerns.
To find a participating housing counseling agency near you, search online or call:
800-569-4287
Find a HUD-Approved Housing Counselor
Remember: Programs, funding and eligibility vary by community. If one organization can't help with your particular situation, ask whether they can refer you to another local resource.
You Are Not Alone
Eviction can carry an enormous amount of fear, stress and shame. But the reasons people experience housing instability are often far more complicated than outsiders realize.
Job loss. A family emergency. An unexpected expense. A relationship ending. Fraud. A sudden change in income. One setback that creates another.
Real people in our own community have experienced eviction — and they've come out on the other side.
This guide is intended as a starting point. It is not legal advice. Eviction laws, court procedures, assistance programs, funding and eligibility requirements can change. Whenever possible, we've linked directly to organizations and agencies so you can find their most current information.
BEFORE: When You're Worried About Paying Rent
Don't wait for an eviction notice to start looking for help.
Housing instability often begins much earlier: an unexpected car repair, reduced hours at work, a medical expense, a missed rent payment or simply realizing that next month's numbers aren't going to work.
Recognizing those warning signs matters because you may have more options before an eviction case is filed.
Understand the Warning Signs
If you're borrowing money every month to cover rent, regularly paying late, choosing between rent and other necessities, or already know you won't have enough for an upcoming payment, it's time to start asking questions and exploring resources.
In Understanding the Warning Signs, Greg Hill and Autumn Sines discuss what renters should pay attention to and why taking action sooner can make a difference.
Talk to Your Landlord Early
It may be uncomfortable, but avoiding the problem usually doesn't make it disappear.
If you know you're going to be late or unable to make a full payment, communicating early may give you an opportunity to understand your landlord's expectations and whether any arrangements are possible.
Keep records of important communications and payment information. If you reach an agreement about rent, payment timing or another housing matter, ask for it in writing.
Start Looking for Help Now
Rental and housing assistance programs have different eligibility requirements, funding levels and application processes — and availability changes.
Rather than waiting until an eviction is underway, begin contacting organizations as soon as you realize you may need assistance.
Cobb County Resources
The Center for Family Resources (CFR) provides housing services for Cobb County residents experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless. Programs and available assistance vary based on eligibility and funding.
Get Help from The Center for Family Resources
MUST Ministries provides housing and homelessness services that may include emergency shelter, housing assistance, rapid rehousing and other support based on current program availability.
Explore MUST Ministries Housing Services
CFR and MUST Ministries also serve as important access points for people seeking housing and homelessness resources in Cobb County.
Family Promise of Cobb County helps people and families experiencing homelessness in Cobb County. Here's their resource list as well as ways you can get direct help from Family Promise.
Know Your Lease
Find your lease and read it.
Pay particular attention to sections addressing:
- When rent is considered late
- Late fees
- Notices
- Lease violations
- Termination
- Communication requirements
Keep a copy somewhere you can access easily. Understanding what your lease says becomes especially important if a dispute develops.
DURING: When the Eviction Process Has Started
If you've received formal paperwork, don't ignore it.
In Georgia, an eviction case is generally referred to as a dispossessory proceeding. Once the legal process begins, deadlines matter.
A late notice, demand for possession, court summons and writ of possession are not the same thing. Understanding what you've received can help you determine where you are in the process and what needs your attention now.
Real People. Real Eviction Stories.
One of the reasons Circles Cobb created this series was to remove some of the stigma surrounding eviction.
There isn't one kind of person who gets evicted, and there isn't one story that leads someone there.
In The Real Stories Behind Eviction, Circle Leaders share their own experiences — what happened, what they learned and what they wish other people understood.
Their stories are different, but the message is the same:
An eviction is something that happened to you. It does not define who you are.
Pay Attention to Deadlines
Georgia's eviction process can move quickly.
If you receive court paperwork, read everything carefully. Pay attention to the date you were served, instructions for responding and any deadlines listed in the documents.
Do not assume that talking with your landlord, applying for assistance or planning to move means you can ignore a pending court case.
If you aren't sure what your paperwork means or how to respond, seek qualified legal assistance as quickly as possible.
Legal Help in Metro Atlanta
Atlanta Legal Aid provides free civil legal help to eligible low-income residents of Cobb, Clayton, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties. Housing and eviction matters are among the issues its attorneys handle.
Get Help from Atlanta Legal Aid
Atlanta Legal Aid also offers renter resources covering leases, rent, repairs, utilities, security deposits and other housing issues.
View Atlanta Legal Aid's Renter Resource Guide
For additional self-help legal information throughout Georgia, visit:
Cobb County Housing Stability Program
If your eviction case is in Cobb County, you may also want to learn about The Center for Family Resources Housing Stability Program, developed in partnership with Cobb County Magistrate Court.
The voluntary program is designed to help eligible families facing eviction by connecting them with education, resources and financial assistance while diverting qualifying cases from traditional eviction proceedings. CFR states that successful completion of the program can also result in the eviction record being expunged.
Eligibility and program requirements apply.
Learn About CFR's Housing Stability Program
Participate in the Process
An eviction filing does not mean every case proceeds exactly the same way.
Depending on the circumstances, a case could involve communication between the tenant and landlord, mediation, an agreement or consent judgment, a court hearing or another resolution.
The options available depend on the facts of the individual case.
That's one reason it's important to participate in the process rather than disappear from it.
Keep Everything
Create one folder — paper or digital — for anything connected to your housing situation.
Keep:
- Your lease
- Rent receipts and payment records
- Notices from your landlord
- Emails and text messages
- Court paperwork
- Assistance applications
- Confirmation numbers
- Names and dates from important phone calls
- Any written agreements
When you're dealing with multiple organizations, deadlines and conversations at the same time, having everything together can make the process much easier to navigate.
Ask for Legal Help When You Need It
Eviction is a legal proceeding.
Community organizations and educational resources like this one can help you understand the basics, but they aren't substitutes for legal advice about your individual circumstances.
If something doesn't seem right — including questions involving how you were served, the amount claimed, housing conditions or repairs, your lease, discrimination, domestic violence, bankruptcy or whether the required legal process was followed — talk with a qualified legal professional.
AFTER: When You've Been Evicted or Had to Leave
An eviction can affect much more than where you sleep tonight.
You may be dealing with temporary housing, moving expenses, transportation, children's school arrangements, work, storage, debt, credit concerns and the challenge of finding another landlord willing to rent to you.
It can also carry enormous emotional weight.
But an eviction is an event. It does not have to become your identity.
If You Need Somewhere to Stay
If you are experiencing homelessness or staying somewhere temporary after an eviction, contact the coordinated-entry system or housing providers serving the community where you live.
Coordinated Entry is a process communities use to assess housing needs and connect people experiencing or at risk of homelessness with available shelter, housing and services.
Availability varies, and contacting Coordinated Entry does not guarantee placement or financial assistance.
Cobb County
Start with:
The Center for Family Resources
City of Atlanta
Residents experiencing homelessness in the City of Atlanta can find information about Coordinated Entry and community resources through Partners for HOME and the City of Atlanta.
You can also contact ATL311 for information about available City of Atlanta services.
Fulton, DeKalb and Other Georgia Counties
Housing-resource systems differ by county.
The Georgia Department of Community Affairs maintains information about Continuums of Care and Coordinated Entry resources throughout Georgia, including an interactive directory of homelessness service access points.
Find Homelessness Resources in Georgia
For areas served by Georgia's Balance of State Continuum of Care, a statewide toll-free hotline can also connect callers with funded agencies and Coordinated Entry access points in their area:
1-844-249-8367
Georgia Balance of State Coordinated Entry
Staying in a Motel After an Eviction?
If your family is currently living in a motel in the Metro Atlanta area after losing housing, you may be eligible to self-refer to the Motel to Home program.
Eligibility requirements apply, so visit the program directly for current information.
Get Help Through Motel to Home
If Domestic Violence Is Part of Your Housing Situation
Housing instability and domestic violence can overlap, and additional legal protections or resources may apply.
The Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF) provides legal assistance involving housing and intimate partner abuse, including its Safe Families Office and Housing Court Assistance Center.
For 24-hour confidential domestic violence assistance in Georgia, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs also directs residents to the statewide domestic violence hotline at:
1-800-334-2836
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is:
1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
Finding Your Next Home May Require a Different Strategy
An eviction filing or judgment can make a traditional apartment search more difficult, but difficult does not mean impossible.
Some renters explore what is commonly called second-chance housing — properties or landlords that may consider applicants whose rental, credit or eviction history doesn't meet the criteria of some traditional apartment communities.
Before paying an application fee, ask:
- What screening criteria does the property use?
- Would your particular rental history automatically disqualify you?
- Is there a minimum credit score?
- Are outstanding landlord balances considered?
- How far back does the property look at eviction filings or judgments?
- Are additional deposits or other conditions required?
Be cautious of anyone who guarantees housing approval or asks for money without clearly explaining the service being provided.
Understand What May Still Be Outstanding
Leaving a property doesn't necessarily mean every financial or legal issue associated with the tenancy disappears.
There may still be questions involving unpaid rent, fees, damages, collections or a judgment.
If you don't understand what you owe — or believe something is incorrect — seek qualified legal or financial guidance rather than assuming there's nothing you can do.
What's Next? Rebuilding After Housing Instability
Your next chapter doesn't have to happen all at once.
Start with the next manageable step.
That might mean securing temporary housing. Understanding what's on your credit or rental history. Creating a realistic budget. Starting a savings account. Increasing your income. Finding a new home. Or simply finding people who can help you make a plan.
And progress doesn't have to be perfect to count.
Dominique's Story: Getting Financially Ready for Homeownership
Dominique Allen, a Circle Leader in Circles Cobb's Cohort 2, knows something about taking those steps.
While caring for her niece and nephew and working two jobs, Dominique joined Circles Cobb looking for support. Through her Circles journey, she began setting financial goals, saving what she could, building her confidence and learning how to ask for help.
Her saving wasn't always consistent.
She kept going anyway.
Today, Dominique and her family are on the journey toward building a Habitat for Humanity home of their own.
Her advice?
Trust the process.
Dominique's story is an important reminder that housing instability doesn't have to determine where your story ends. Financial stability, savings and homeownership may take time — and sometimes several attempts — but small steps still count.
You Don't Have to Navigate This Alone
One theme came up again and again as we created Eviction Stories & Steps:
Ask for help earlier than you think you need it.
That help may come from a housing organization, an attorney, a landlord willing to communicate, a financial coach, a friend who helps you make a phone call — or simply someone who reminds you that one difficult chapter doesn't determine what happens next.
At Circles Cobb, we believe relationships matter.
Our Circle Leaders work toward goals involving income, finances, education, careers, housing and their families while building relationships with people who encourage them, connect them with resources and help them navigate barriers along the way.
Sometimes the most meaningful support isn't something material.
Sometimes it's simply someone calling to ask:
How are you doing? What can I do?
That's what it means to have a Circle.
More Eviction Stories & Steps Are Coming
The videos featured here are only the beginning.
Additional Eviction Stories & Steps videos will be released soon, covering more of the eviction process, available resources and steps renters can take before, during and after an eviction.
We'll continue updating this guide as additional videos become available, so bookmark this page and check back for new information.
You can also follow Circles Cobb on YouTube to watch the latest videos in the series as they're released.
Need Help Now?
Don't rely on this article alone.
Programs, funding, availability and eligibility requirements change. Contact housing, legal and community organizations directly for their current programs and guidance.
If you've received court paperwork, read it carefully, pay particular attention to any deadlines and consider seeking qualified legal assistance as soon as possible.
This resource is provided by Circles Cobb for general educational and informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Laws, court procedures, assistance programs, eligibility requirements and contact information can change. Information about a program does not guarantee eligibility or assistance. Consult an attorney or the appropriate agency regarding your individual circumstances.