Today, leaders from the City of Savannah, Chatham County, the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA), and the Community Housing Services Agency (CHSA) announced the official launch of Housing United, a new collaborative effort housed within CHSA and designed to accelerate and expand affordable housing across Chatham County.

Housing United represents the next evolution of regional housing coordination, bringing together public, non-profit, and industry partners under a unified initiative focused on raising, managing, and aligning resources for affordable and workforce housing development.

The initiative builds on the prior work of Housing Savannah, Inc., which for three years has supported community dialogue, fundraising, and policy development around affordable housing solutions. Housing United continues that legacy while expanding capacity for countywide collaboration. Specifically, Housing United expands CHSA’s capacity to work with all municipalities and with Chatham County to develop affordable and workforce housing county-wide. Chatham County and SEDA have committed to partnering with and financially supporting Housing United, along with local and regional companies.

The new Housing United initiative, like its predecessor Housing Savannah, Inc, builds on the momentum of the Housing Savannah Action Plan, which was adopted in 2021 and continues to serve as a catalyst for improving systems, coordinating partners, and increasing housing production in Savannah, and now throughout Chatham County.

The City of Savannah and partners CHSA and the Chatham Savannah Land Bank Authority, have taken significant strides to increase affordable housing efforts in Savannah. Now, with rapid population growth, increased workforce demand, and major economic expansion across the entire community, leaders recognized the need for housing efforts to extend beyond Savannah’s city limits. Housing United provides the structure to meet these demands on a county-wide scale.

“The success of Housing Savannah, Inc, powered by historic investments in the Savannah Affordable Housing Fund by the Georgia Ports Authority, The Civis Foundation, and others, propelled our theory of change to new heights,” said City Manager Jay Melder.  “Now, the Housing United initiative can build on that success, and harness regional collaboration to unlock new investments and serve Savannah and our broader community.”

In 2023, the Georgia Ports Authority announced a major, multi-year workforce housing investment in Savannah and other near-port communities.  In the first two years, The Port of Savannah Area Workforce Housing Initiative has provided $1.5M to the Savannah Affordable Housing Fund.  This investment has helped improve housing conditions and opportunities impacting 151 families living in near port neighborhoods including 108 homeowners with home improvements, 28 first time homebuyers with down payment assistance, and helped construct 15 new homes. GPA has pledged a total of $6 million over eight years to support housing availability in communities surrounding the port, including Savannah, Garden City, and Port Wentworth. These investments strengthen neighborhoods, support long-time residents, and help maintain a vibrant regional workforce as port activity continues to grow.

Housing United advances a key guiding value of Savannah GPS, Savannah's new strategic plan: to build stronger regional partnerships. The initiative also reflects new regional research, including the Georgia Tech Regional Housing Needs Assessment, which identified rising housing shortages in Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham and Effingham counties and the City of Savannah. These findings underscore the need for coordinated solutions, like those created under Housing United.

 “At SEDA, we understand that a key part of growing and attracting companies in Chatham County is built on the strength of our workforce, so it is crucial that we address the housing challenges that were identified in the Georgia Tech Center for Economic Development Research assessment. We are committed to ensuring housing solutions align with workforce growth, employer needs, and long-term economic sustainability. Housing United gives us the coordinated framework to do that,” said SEDA President and CEO Trip Tollison.

The Savannah Economic Development Authority is also a part of the Regional Industry Support Enterprise (RISE), a regional workforce development and industry support organization addressing labor market challenges in eight counties. The organization is focused on seven key initiatives including housing, where they are advancing strategies that increase the availability of workforce housing.

Chatham County leaders emphasized the importance of a unified approach:

“Housing United is a countywide solution to a countywide challenge,” said Chatham County Manager Michael Kaigler. “This initiative brings together public, private, and nonprofit partners to expand housing opportunities for families throughout our region.”

CHSA will continue its longstanding leadership role in housing finance and development as the home of the Housing United initiative:

“The Community Housing Services Agency non-profit housing corporation is excited about playing a role in the new affordable and workforce Housing United partnership that anticipates raising investments and developing new partnerships necessary to help improve and create housing opportunities countywide for the unhoused, renters, homeowners, and homebuyers,” said Deborah Wright, CHSA Chair.

As an initiative, Housing United will coordinate funding strategies, prioritize development opportunities, support ongoing projects, and leverage public and private investments to expand the regional housing pipeline.

“Savannah and Chatham County are experiencing extraordinary economic momentum—from port-driven growth to new employers—and housing is foundational infrastructure,” Melder said. “This partnership positions us to meet that moment with a unified, strategic, regional approach.”

Additional details about Housing United’s initial priorities and partner coordination will be released in the coming weeks.