Correction:
4:15 p.m., Oct. 9, 2025: The story was updated to correct the percentage of housing costs relative to household income defined by the terms “affordable” and “deeply affordable.”
4:30 p.m. Oct. 6, 2025: The story was updated to reflect the complex distinctions and housing definitions of specific words and terms. The story was updated to clarify the date when the meeting was held, who officially received the relocation plan, the difference between the terms “affordable housing” and “deeply-affordable housing”, as well as the definition of “eviction”.
The last residents of Yamacraw Village, a subsidized housing complex that has survived for 84 years in downtown Savannah’s oldest Black neighborhood, will have a home to return to after the Housing Authority of Savannah completes the redevelopment of the area as long as they continue to meet federal eligibility requirements, officials said last week.
However, at a Housing Authority meeting held on Sept. 25, officials could not provide residents with the answer they more urgently wanted: how long will it take for Yamacraw to be demolished and rebuilt. Officials said the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the federal agency that oversees subsidized housing, has yet to approve the demolition plans or hire the contractor to rebuild.
The 13 residents who came to the meeting left as confused as they were when they arrived, given that housing officials couldn’t provide more concrete details about how and when they would be forced to relocate.
Officials also had little information about how the city and housing agency will decide on the two possible scenarios for the demolition process that are possible under federal affordable housing regulations.
Definitions for “affordable” and “deeply affordable” rents vary in different cities and among various housing groups, according to the National League of Cities. According to HousingSavannah.com, affordable generally means housing costs are no more than 30% of household income. Deeply affordable generally refers to rent that is typically reserved for households earning 50% or less of the Area Median Income. In Savannah, the average 4-person family income is $96,600.
One choice for development would limit the number of deeply–affordable housing units to 185, while the other would allow for mixed development and a plan for 315 deeply-affordable housing units, according to a letter sent to residents.
The demolition plan has no limitation on the amount of affordable units that can be built, but there is a capped amount of deeply-affordable units that can be built.
On Sept. 4, the Savannah Housing Authority sent an official relocation plan to the Yamacraw Resident Council, which is a resident-led organization that represents the people in the 98 apartments that are still habitable. A total of 315 units exists on the property, however 217 units now sit boarded up and vacant.
Kristin Hopkins-Graham, director of resident services at the Housing Authority, said that her team has begun meeting individually with these residents to assess each household’s needs. These consultations focus on housing preferences, desired locations, and any special accommodations required when the forced relocation begins. Residents are currently being offered housing options that include other public housing communities managed by the Housing Authority, units subsidized through project-based vouchers, and housing supported by tenant protection vouchers.
Residents have easy access to public transportation from Yamacraw to reach grocery stores or doctors since it is located in downtown Savannah. While officials said there was room for preference on location, they could not provide details on where exactly the residents would be able to move to.
Rafaella Nutini, the real estate development director, told residents who attended last week’s meeting that they can expect to receive formal notices to move within 90 to 120 days after the application is approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. However, advocates complained that this time frame is not in the written relocation plan. Notices, she said, will be hand-delivered, emailed, and sent via first-class mail. These notices force tenants to vacate their unit, but are not eviction notices, which are served when a tenant has broken their lease.
To qualify for re-occupancy, residents must meet all relevant U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Housing Authority of Savannah eligibility requirements at the time of their return. These include meeting income eligibility thresholds, providing proof of citizenship or eligible immigration status, and maintaining lease compliance throughout the relocation period. Nutini also stated during the meeting that criminal background checks will be a part of the eligibility screening process. However, credit scores or unrelated non-housing debts will not be considered unless they are directly tied to housing eligibility.
Housing Authority officials encouraged all Yamacraw Village residents to reach out to their assigned relocation counselor for more information.
You must be logged in to post a comment.