When families are without decent housing, that can affect their health, their work and their overall well-being. What if it also becomes a reason for the state to remove their children?
In partnership with ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network, WABE reporter Stephannie Stokes documents the harsh consequences of housing insecurity in Georgia’s child welfare system, where the Division of Family and Children Services has frequently reported “inadequate housing” as a reason for putting children in foster care but provided few resources to help.
Key Findings from the Series
- Between fiscal years 2018 and 2022, DFCS cited “inadequate housing” as a reason for removing children in 20% of cases.
- For 2%, or more than 700 kids, housing was the only reason listed for taking the child.
- Despite this, Georgia dedicated less than 1% of its money to preserve and reunite families on housing assistance.
- In 2022, the total amount spent on housing assistance was $278,000 for the whole state.
- Cases that included “inadequate housing” as the initial reason for removing the children also took longer to reach reunification — extending the family’s separation by three months on average.
- Foster care cases associated with inadequate housing even took longer to resolve than cases involving allegations of physical or sexual abuse.
