Resolution for the Formation of a Unified Affordable Housing Coalition in Savannah

Whereas, Savannah is experiencing an acute shortage of deeply affordable housing, and the Housing Authority of Savannah (HAS) has, over the past two decades, eliminated more deeply-affordable public housing than it has replaced;

Whereas, of the roughly 1,300 deeply affordable public housing units demolished or redeveloped by HAS in the last 20 years, only ~760 mixed-income units have been built, none of which are deeply affordable public units, resulting in a net loss of hundreds of homes for low-income families;

Whereas, the dismantling of deeply affordable housing disproportionately harms Black communities, working-class families, seniors, and long-time Savannah residents who face escalating rents, limited voucher acceptance, and displacement from their neighborhoods;

Whereas, Savannah DSA has already been serving—informally and without mandate—as a coordinating hub among residents, community organizations, and allies, including acting as the primary support structure for the Yamacraw Village Residents’ Council (YVRC), disseminating critical information, elevating resident demands, and successfully bringing HAS and public officials to the negotiating table;

Whereas, DSA has become recognized locally as a trusted advocate and effective organizer in housing-justice campaigns, and this trust presents a meaningful opportunity to build a broad, durable, citywide coalition dedicated solely to expanding deeply affordable housing and protecting residents from displacement;

Therefore be it resolved that:

1. Savannah DSA authorizes the establishment of a DSA-led affordable housing coalition, tentatively named the Savannah Affordable Housing Coalition (SAHC), as a collaborative body intended to unite organizations, residents, advocates, and unaffiliated community members around the defense and expansion of deeply affordable, income-tied housing in Savannah,

2. the Housing Working Group co-chairs are empowered to initiate outreach to community organizations, resident associations, advocacy partners, and interested individuals for the purpose of assembling the coalition’s initial membership, and to extend invitations to additional organizations on an ongoing basis provided they align with the coalition’s mission,

3. the Housing Working Group co-chairs shall convene and facilitate the coalition’s early meetings, serving in a provisional leadership capacity only until a permanent governance structure is formally adopted by the coalition,

4. within sixty (60) days of the coalition’s first full meeting, the Housing Working Group co-chairs shall coordinate the creation of a provisional charter draft that outlines preliminary membership categories, representation structures, decision-making processes, leadership roles, amendment procedures, and the coalition’s proposed relationship to DSA, with the understanding that this provisional draft is solely intended to initiate wider democratic discussion and does not constitute ratification,

5. following the release of the provisional charter draft, all participating organizations shall be afforded a minimum of ninety (90) days to conduct internal review, propose revisions, discuss governance implications with their own memberships, and undertake whatever approval processes their bylaws require, during which time the provisional draft may undergo multiple rounds of revision to incorporate organizational and public feedback,

6. once the charter reaches a form acceptable to participating organizations, the final charter shall be submitted for ratification by a supermajority of member organizations, and simultaneously submitted to the Savannah DSA Steering Committee for its own approval, after which the coalition shall adopt the charter formally and transition to fully independent, democratically elected leadership,

7. the Housing Working Group co-chairs shall provide monthly progress updates to the chapter regarding coalition outreach, membership growth, charter drafting, organizational review, and anticipated timelines for ratification and transition to permanent governance,

8. and all coalition-related actions, communications, and internal processes shall adhere to the core values of democratic governance, transparency, accountability, and resident-centered organizing, ensuring that deeply affordable housing and the voices of impacted communities remain central to the coalition’s work.