Before you apply
What the FreeRent ATL grant requires, what to have ready, and answers to questions applicants ask most.
An active lease in the City of Atlanta
You need a lease that has already started, at an address inside Atlanta city limits. City limits do not always follow the postal address, so a reviewer checks this by hand.
Household income at or below 80% of the area median
The limit depends on how many people live in your household — see the table below. Households between 50% and 80% are the program's priority range, but being under 50% does not count against you.
At least one adult employed full-time
One full-time earner in the household is required. If the only work in the household is part-time, a reviewer looks at the whole picture before anything is decided.
No more than half your income goes to housing
Rent plus utilities must come to 50% or less of your monthly income.
A recent, unexpected hardship
Something outside your control — for example unexpected medical costs, illness or disability, domestic violence, a fire or flood, the death or serious illness of the household's main earner, a transport setback affecting your job, or a significant change involving children.
Yearly household income at or below these amounts meets the income requirement. Count everyone who lives with you.
| People in household | Income limit |
|---|---|
| 1 | $64,000 |
| 2 | $73,120 |
| 3 | $82,240 |
| 4 | $91,360 |
| 5 | $98,720 |
| 6 | $106,000 |
| 7 | $113,360 |
| 8 | $120,640 |
Households of more than eight people are reviewed individually. These are 2025 HUD figures for the Atlanta area.
The form itself does not ask you to upload anything. These are the materials the program collects later, so it helps to gather them.
- Your lease
- A rent ledger
- Income verification
- Documentation of your hardship
- A monthly budget
- A 90-second video introducing yourself and your goals for the program
Recipients sign an agreement to set quarterly financial and personal goals, take part in financial education, and save at least three months of housing costs during the program.
- Do I have to be currently renting?
- Yes. You need an active lease within the service area.
- What if no one in my household is employed full-time?
- At least one adult must be employed full-time to qualify. If someone in the household works part-time, apply anyway and say so — a reviewer will look at it.
- What if my rent-to-income ratio is above 50%?
- Housing costs must be at or below half your monthly income to qualify at this time.
- Is the credit pull a hard inquiry?
- No. It is a soft pull and will not affect your score.
- Do you pay landlords directly?
- Yes. For selected recipients, funds go directly to the landlord or property manager as the program's quarterly goals are met.
- Will you consider back rent?
- You can share any past-due amount in your application. These are decided case by case, within the program's budget.
- How many families are selected each year?
- It depends on the annual budget and fundraising. In 2024 the grant supported 7 families for a full year; in 2025 it supported 11 families for a full year and 14 families for three months.
- What if I need language or accessibility support?
- Contact atl@freerent.org for help with the forms, translation, or accessibility needs.
- Why do you run a background check?
- For safety and to prepare for property management needs. Your consent is obtained before any check is run.
- Can I nominate myself?
- Yes. Self-nominations and third-party nominations are both accepted.
Not sure whether you qualify? Apply anyway — staff review every application.