Grandmother Landlord Sues Georgia Department of Community Affairs For Mismanagement of Covid Rental Assistance Funds

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Sep 15, 2025, 08:10 ET

ATLANTA, Sept. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A Georgia landlord, grandmother and senior citizen, who says she feels "scammed by the State," has filed a lawsuit in Fulton County Court (Case No. 25MS226928) against the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) asserting mismanagement in the distribution of COVID rental assistance funds. The lawsuit alleges that after submitting all requested documentation, enduring months of delays, and receiving an official approval letter, Yolanda Davis was devastated to learn that nearly $10,000 in rental assistance had been erroneously issued to her tenant instead of to her. When the tenant absconded with the funds, DCA refused to take responsibility.

A Georgia grandmother and landlord, who says she feels “scammed by the State,” has filed a lawsuit in Fulton County Court (Case No. 25MS226928) against the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) asserting mismanagement in the distribution of COVID rental assistance funds after her tenant received funding intended for her. Under federal guidelines, landlords, not tenants, are the intended recipients of emergency funds as noted on the agency’s own public materials.

Davis alleges that she relied on statements made by DCA representatives as well as the agency's own public materials, which state: "The State of Georgia received $552 million from the U.S. Treasury's Emergency Rental Assistance Program to provide relief to individuals, families, and landlords… The money will be distributed directly to landlords/utility companies."

In addition to filing a lawsuit to recover her loss, Davis has reached out to elected officials for support. Her former representative, Congressman David Scott, confirmed that under federal guidelines, landlords—not tenants—are the intended recipients of Emergency Rental Assistance funds. Davis has also contacted Georgia State Representative Rhonda Burnough and her current U.S. Representative, Congresswoman Nikema Williams, as she continues to pursue restitution and raise awareness about a problem that affected many small landlords.

"I feel like the State ran a scam on me—and I know I'm not the only one," Davis said. "You read about the fraud during the Pandemic but don't hear the stories about small landlords like me who were harmed by bureaucratic negligence. We followed the rules. We did our part, they did not. But we're expected to take the loss and move on."

Davis hopes that her lawsuit encourages other small landlords in similar situations to not give up and to continue to seek the repayment of government funding legally due to them.

Media Contact: Makeda Smith/ Jazzmyne Public Relations
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SOURCE Yolanda Davis