WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — As Warner Robins continues to grow, so does the demand for affordable housing — a demand that the city’s housing authority is struggling to meet.
More than 400 people are on the waiting list for public housing, with wait times stretching from one to three years.
Executive Director of the Warner Robins Housing Authority, Africa Porter, says the city's rapid growth is compounding the issue.
"We have a lot of people moving into Warner Robins, into Houston County, that are applying to have a stepping stone," Porter said. "We want to give them that foundation to get back in a good position to afford their own home."
The housing authority is actively working with contractors to increase the number of affordable housing units beyond what they’re regulated to provide, but challenges like land use restrictions and federal approvals slow down the process.
Public housing has been a critical support system for residents like Betty James. James, who moved into public housing in 2010, said it allowed her to raise her children and pursue higher education. However, she expressed concern for those still waiting for a place to live.
"It has been hard," James said. "To be able to go in the store now and buy groceries to not pay attention to the sign, that speaks volumes. And a lot of people are living that way now. They can't just go into the store and buy groceries. They have to make sure they have the money. They might not have the money."
This local crisis is part of a broader national issue that U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock is trying to address with the reintroduction of the American Housing and Economic Mobility Act of 2024.
If passed, the bill would invest $70 billion into maintaining and improving affordable public housing units across the country, with funds distributed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to housing authorities like Warner Robins.
The bill proposed by Warnock still has a few hurdles to overcome, including a committee review and votes in the House and Senate. But for communities like Warner Robins, it could add some relief.