Augusta housing department seeks $49 million in SPLOST 9 requests, including $12 million 'Homeless Institute'

Augusta City Commission members heard a presentation on the Housing and Community Development Department’s SPLOST 9 priorities, which include a proposed $3,000,000 renovation of the HCD office, a $12,000,000 ‘Homeless Institute’ concept, and $34,000,000 for affordable-housing acquisition and construction.

The HCD presentation matters because the department said its program budget is heavily federal and the capital requests would expand local capacity for shelter, services and new units in the city.

Deputy Kevin Jackson, Housing and Community Development Department, told commissioners the first priority is a 20,000-square-foot renovation to address “significant structural issues” in the department’s current building and to create offices, conference rooms and an education lab. Jackson said the second item was “a very bold initiative” the previous director had championed: a stand-alone Homeless Institute modeled on a locality in North Carolina. Jackson described the institute as a facility providing on-site wraparound services with room types “70 rooms for 1 to 2 people, 187 rooms for groups, and 50 rooms designated for people with disabilities,” plus laundry, medical facilities and training space. He said day-to-day operations were expected to be managed by a third-party contractor and that the concept was based on a model the previous director had researched in North Carolina (the presentation noted either Greenville or Rocky Mount but did not specify which).

Jackson also summarized an approximate $34,000,000 request to fund acquisition, design and construction for affordable housing. He told the commission that, based on planning materials, much of the city’s occupied housing stock is “very dated” and that the funds would support multiple development activities. Jackson said about 95% of HCD’s budget is federal funding, and the SPLOST dollars would be targeted to land acquisition and development costs.

Commissioners asked for more detail. Commissioner Francine Scott asked how long HCD had occupied the current building and why it now needs further renovation; Jackson replied he had been in the offices about a month and a half and observed the building was dated and needed work. Commissioner Stacy Pulling asked whether HCD had consulted the city’s homeless task force about the Homeless Institute; Jackson said he “cannot speak to that” and offered to follow up. Commissioner Jordan Johnson asked whether the institute would be transitional or an overnight shelter; Jackson described it as “a hybrid of the two” with a transition focus and day-center services. Commissioners also asked Jackson to provide more specifics about what kinds of housing the $34 million might fund (duplexes, triplexes, tiny homes, mixed-use units); Jackson said those program details were not finalized and that he would research options and report back.

No motions or votes were taken on the HCD requests during the presentation. Commissioners and staff asked for follow-up information on task force engagement, program types that $34,000,000 would support, and connections to existing city housing programs and tax-credit incentives.

The presentation closed with Jackson offering to provide additional research and a more detailed proposal to the body.

Looking ahead, commissioners requested the department return with clarified funding scenarios and program design so the commission can consider prioritization as part of the SPLOST 9 planning process.