…Georgia’s Oldest and Second Largest Housing Authority, was created by a Resolution of the City Council of Augusta.
December 13, 1937, Mayor Richard E. Allen, Jr. of the City of Augusta, Georgia signed into effect the resolution that indicated: a “need for a housing authority in the city of Augusta, in that unsanitary and unsafe dwelling accommodations exist in said City, and there is a shortage of safe and sanitary dwelling accommodations in said City available to person of low income at rentals they can afford.” On December 21, 1937, the Mayor appointed the first commissioners of the Housing Authority Board, recognizing: Elbert P. Peabody, Richard Reid, Lee Blum, John E. Hines and E.C. Peters. On December 27, 1937, the Board met for the first time in the Directors’ Assembly Room of the National Exchange Bank to organize the Housing Authority, adopt by-laws, a seal, and elect officers.
The first cooperative agreement between the City of Augusta, Georgia and the Housing Authority of the City of Augusta, Georgia dates to March 31, 1938. Additionally, that day holds the original contract between the two entities for the “elimination of insanitary and unsafe dwellings.”
Olmsted Homes was completed in late 1939 and fully occupied (167 units) by March 1940.
Today, Augusta Housing Authority – like other Housing Authorities across the nation – is an Independent Corporation authorized by enabling Federal Legislation and created in accordance with the Housing Authorities Law of the State of Georgia. It operates under the supervision of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Evaluated annually through the Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS) – a method used by HUD for judging the successful operation of a housing authority, the Housing Authority scores a HIGH PERFORMING status for both their Section 8 (SEMAP) and Public Housing Programs. Because of those scores, the Housing Authority is more likely to be eligible for grants from Federal & State sources. Many of the award winning programs that enhance the lives of AHA residents are funded through those sources.
A 6 Member Board of Commissioners appointed by the Mayor serves as the Governing Body for the Augusta Housing Authority. Five Board Members (Dr. Rodger Murchison, Reverend Kenneth Martin, Patricia Walker, Jackson Widener Jr. and David Steele) Serve 5-Year Terms and a Resident Commissioner (Mary Fallen) Serves a 1-Year Term. The Board meets monthly at the Reid Administration Building located at 1435 Walton Way.
The next Board of Commissioners Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 30, 2017 at 9:00 a.m.
Augusta Housing Authority will hold Regular Board Meetings open to the public on the third Thursday of each month at 9:00 a.m. The meetings will be held in the Board Room of the Augusta Housing Authority’s Administrative Office building, located at 1435 Walton Way, Augusta, Georgia.
Meetings are subject to change based on commissioner schedules.
For information on Housing, please call (706) 724-5466.
If you would like to know about specific programs, please click here.
If you have Portability questions, please contact Star Smith at (706) 312-3116.
Please send all communication to Board Members to:
1435 Walton Way
Augusta, Georgia 30901
Dr. Rodger Murchison
Chair, Augusta Housing Authority
Reverend Kenneth Martin
Vice-Chair, Augusta Housing Authority
Jackson Widener
Commissioner, Augusta Housing Authority
David Steele
Commissioner, Augusta Housing Authority
Patricia Walker
Commissioner, Augusta Housing Authority
Mary Fallen
Commissioner, Augusta Housing Authority
Main Telephone Number: (706) 724-5466
TDD: (706) 724-0130