Atlanta nonprofit raises $16.5 million to prevent evictions
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Marjy Stagmeier and the Star-C Program provided over 5,500 families in Atlanta, Georgia, with financial help to prevent them from losing their homes.
Stagmeier, a landlord with 30 years of experience, founded the organization to address the fact that many stable residents face temporary financial hurdles. The initiative began as a $50,000 GoFundMe campaign during the COVID pandemic and has since grown into a major relief fund.
The nonprofit works with apartment owners who commit to keeping housing affordable for families living at or below 80% of the area median income. Stagmeier and her partners found that eviction often stems from specific incidents, such as stolen pension checks, rather than a permanent lack of income. The program aims to prevent the cycle of eviction, which Stagmeier argues benefits no one involved. The organization has expanded its reach to include over 330 apartment communities containing 64,000 units.
Beyond direct rent payments, the program connects residents to medical services, food assistance, and youth programs. While the nonprofit is currently at maximum capacity for its current funding cycle and is not accepting new applications, it reports that nearly 100 families have moved from renting to owning homes because of the program.
