HEARTS Georgia

The HEARTS Georgia Program, launched in response to Hurricane Helene, provides essential temporary shelter to individuals and families whose primary residences were damaged, destroyed, or deemed uninhabitable. Administered by the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS), this initiative offers hotel and motel accommodations to survivors across 61 designated counties and travel trailers/RVs in 12 of those counties for up to six months. The program’s primary objective is to provide immediate, secure shelter while supporting the transition to sustainable housing solutions. By addressing the critical housing needs of disaster survivors, the HEARTS Georgia Program plays a pivotal role in fostering recovery and resilience for affected communities across the state. 

This program is available to Georgia residents who need emergency sheltering assistance. Survivors must first apply to FEMA for Individual Assistance to be considered for the State of Georgia Hurricane Helene temporary sheltering program. FEMA and GEMA/HS are coordinating to ensure there are no duplication of benefits in providing emergency sheltering. 

Eligibility 

The Program is for survivors from the counties impacted by Hurricane Helene and declared for both FEMA Individual and Public Assistance. 

Focused on areas heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene: 

Appling*, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien*, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke*, Butts, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch*, Coffee*, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Dodge, Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Emanuel*, Evans, Fulton, Glascock, Glynn, Hancock, Irwin, Jeff Davis*, Jefferson*, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier*, Laurens, Liberty, Lincoln, Long, Lowndes*, McDuffie*, McIntosh, Montgomery, Newton, Pierce, Rabun, Richmond, Screven, Stephens, Taliaferro, Tattnall, Telfair, Thomas, Tift, Toombs*, Treutlen, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wheeler, and Wilkes Counties.

*Counties participating in Travel Trailer/RV sheltering.

To be eligible for the State of Georgia Sheltering Program, survivors must:

• Be registered with FEMA
• Be seeking shelter in their eligible county
• Have a home that is majorly damaged, destroyed, or not habitable
• Agree to the program terms

Registration

To apply in English, visit here.
To apply in Spanish, visit here.

This is a temporary program that may last up to six months with a focus on transitioning survivors into sustainable housing. Hearts Georgia will provide hotel or motel rooms to survivors who are unable to locate a habitable residence. Survivors must first apply with FEMA for disaster assistance. For more information, please call the HEARTS Georgia Program Contact Center at 833-575-4411 or visit the FAQs here. Individuals may also email GEMA/HS's Community Recovery Department at [email protected] for more details.