Priority housing voucher policy proposed for existing residents ahead of Yamacraw Village demolition

Oct. 19, 2025 – The Housing Authority of Savannah is planning to hold a public hearing on Oct. 28 to provide an opportunity to review and comment on proposed revisions to the public housing admissions policy. The housing authority is revising its local preferences for waiting lists, in an attempt to ensure “equitable access to housing and better reflect the needs of the Savannah community,” according to a public notice regarding the proposed changes.

Families currently residing in public housing that is scheduled for demolition or disposition would be granted a local preference on the housing vouchers waiting list as a way to “to minimize displacement and ensure continuity of housing for affected residents.”

When the waiting lists are open, the residents will be “advanced on the list and given precedence for available vouchers ahead of other applicants,” according to the notification.

Housing authority staff intends to present the revised policies to the board for adoption at their meeting on Nov. 12.

Yamacraw Village Demolition Plans Advance

Last Friday, the city of Savannah was scheduled to authorize the housing authority to submit a request to the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department for the release of funds to demolish Yamacraw Village, after the housing authority determined about five years ago that rehabilitation of the deteriorating development would not be financially practical.

Federal regulations define the city of Savannah as the Responsible Entity charged with overseeing and making environmental review determinations and compliance findings for HUD assisted projects, including HUD-assistance sought by the housing authority.

An environmental review was conducted as part of the demolition plan and no significant impacts on the human environment were found, according to the report.

There are no official plans for redevelopment at present, although the housing authority intends to develop “improved housing units on site and work with stakeholders and community partners for creating a holistic redevelopment plan,” according to a staff update from the board’s September meeting. Any proposed redevelopment of the site will require a separate environmental review.

The city’s position on the undertaking is that Yamacraw Village always be named Yamacraw; that the site always be used for “deeply affordable” housing; and that residents be given the first right to return to new housing built on the site, according to a memo City Manager Jay Melder sent the Savannah City Council in April.

Residents Petition for Housing Guarantees

Vouchers are no guarantee to finding safe and affordable housing and residents are calling for the housing authority to adopt certain guarantees as part of Yamacraw demolition and development planning process. A group of community representatives, The Yamacraw Village Resident Counciil, is demanding in a petition that:

the demolished homes be replaced with income-based affordable homes;
families who live in Yamacraw be allowed to return to the new income-based homes;
additional support be provided for the families looking for homes, including security deposits, utility deposits, application fees, and more staff to assist families in finding apartments that will take the vouchers.

Public Hearing and Comment Notice*

The Housing Authority of Savannah (HAS) will hold a public hearing concerning the proposed voucher policy changes on Tuesday, Oct. 28, from 10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. in the Auditorium of Building B at the Neighborhood Resource Center, located at 1407 Wheaton St.

Written comments may be submitted in the following ways:

By mail to: Housing Authority of Savannah, P.O. Box 1179, Savannah, GA 31404
By email to: skelly@savannahpha.com
Online: Online: Complete the online public comment form using the following link https://form.jotform.com/252455306223147

*All written comments must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 23.

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