Metro Atlanta recorded approximately 144,000 eviction filings last year, giving the region the highest eviction rate in the nation as renters struggle with rising housing costs and a shortage of affordable homes. The filings spanned Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Clayton, and Gwinnett counties, highlighting the scale of the housing crisis facing the region.

According to Princeton University's Eviction Lab, 24 out of every 100 renter households in metro Atlanta faced an eviction filing during the year. That is roughly three times the national rate of seven to eight filings per 100 renter households and exceeds the rate recorded in New York City.

Researchers found that eviction filings are heavily concentrated among a relatively small number of apartment buildings and property owners. Although most landlords rarely file eviction cases, some properties account for hundreds of filings in a single year.

Approximately 15% of all metro Atlanta eviction filings were concentrated in just 100 residential buildings. The Reserve at Stone Creek in Stone Mountain recorded nearly 400 filings, while East Perimeter Pointe near Decatur had 384.

Researchers cautioned that an eviction filing does not necessarily mean a tenant was ultimately forced out of the property. A filing begins a legal process, and some renters may resolve their cases in court, reach an agreement with their landlord or secure alternative housing before an eviction is carried out.

The exact number of physical evictions completed out of the 144,000 filings remains unclear. Without that figure, the total number of households ultimately displaced cannot be determined from the filing data alone.

Eviction Lab researcher Juan Pablo Garnham said eviction proceedings in Atlanta can move quickly and cost landlords relatively little, while renters often lack the financial resources to address missed payments or secure another place to live. He also pointed to differences in tenant protections between Atlanta and cities such as New York, where stronger regulations can provide renters with additional safeguards.

Atlanta's housing challenges have been compounded by rising rents and a shortage of affordable housing. When rental costs increase faster than household incomes, families have less room in their budgets to absorb unexpected expenses, making missed rent payments and eviction proceedings more likely.

In response to the problem, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens announced a new two-year pilot program last week offering interest-free $500 microloans to help residents avoid eviction. The initiative is intended to provide tenants with short-term financial assistance when they face an immediate housing crisis.

The program offers a potential lifeline to renters who need help covering a payment and remaining in their homes. However, the relatively small loans address immediate financial shortfalls rather than the broader pressures of rising housing costs and limited affordable housing across the region.

With eviction filings reaching such high levels, Atlanta faces the challenge of helping vulnerable tenants remain housed while addressing the underlying conditions that leave so many households at risk of losing their homes.