Our neighbors. The ones already here.
The Cottages of providence is for people who live, work, or have family in Cumming and Forsyth County, and who cannot find a place here they can afford.
Who this is for
Seniors on fixed incomes. Veterans. People working full time in jobs this county depends on, at wages that no longer reach local rents. Adults and couples living in extended-stay motels, in vehicles, or in arrangements that were never meant to last.
These are not people who failed. This is what happens when housing costs outrun wages for long enough, and it is happening to people who have been part of this community for decades.
"Living on a fixed income is really tough. I had two part-time jobs that I lost last September. Trying to find some place to live around here that's affordable is really hard."
"I have been looking for a place for over 10 years, for the safety. That would allow me to have a place to rest, a place to be productive, a place to eat right. And I could then use it as a springboard to do all the things I know I can do."
Heard at City Hall, August 18, 2026
"I live on $1,600 a month Social Security."
"We know that some seniors in this county, even longtime residents, do not have that."
Residents will come from here.
Every applicant must document a connection to Cumming or Forsyth County. That means one of the following:
This is a housing community for the people already in this community. It is not a destination, and it is not designed to be one.
Rent
Residents sign a lease and pay rent and utilities, the same as any other renter. Rent will be set to be deeply affordable relative to income.
Paying rent on time is the first commitment every resident makes. It is what makes someone a neighbor rather than a recipient.
Safety and accountability
How residents are screened
Every applicant is reviewed for local connection, housing need, income, the ability to live independently with support, housing history, credit, and a criminal background report.
Criminal background review is individualized and conducted in compliance with fair housing law. A prior record does not automatically disqualify an applicant. The community maintains firm restrictions related to registered sex offenders, drug trafficking, and current or recent behavior that creates a direct safety threat that cannot reasonably be addressed.
Applicants who pose a demonstrable risk to the safety of the community will not be accepted.
What residents agree to
Every resident signs two documents: a lease, and a Community Covenant.
The lease provides legal accountability. The Covenant sets the shared expectations of the neighborhood: dignity, safety, responsibility, stability, community, accountability, and stewardship.
Residents commit to pay rent and utilities on time, care for their home, follow the community rules, respect quiet hours, take responsibility for their guests, and participate in their own stability plan. The rules prohibit illegal activity, violence, threats, harassment, and conduct that interferes with anyone else's peaceful enjoyment of the neighborhood.
Similar to any rental agreement, a material violation of the lease or the Community Covenant is grounds for eviction.
Who manages the property
A professional property management company will be responsible for day-to-day operations, resident relations, and maintenance, with maintenance staff on site.
St. Vincent de Paul Georgia provides oversight through its executive leadership and a local Advisory Committee.
The site is not planned to be gated. Safety is supported through professional management, clear rules consistently enforced, a camera system at the entrance and in common areas, lighting, parking controls, and coordination with local law enforcement, fire, and EMS.
If you have a concern
Emergencies and incidents will be handled by the property manager, supportive services provider, and emergency services. Concerns are documented and reviewed.
Concerns that are serious or recurring go to the Advisory Committee and to the executive leadership of St. Vincent de Paul Georgia.
Neighbors are also invited to join the Neighborhood Advisory Group, a standing group of nearby residents, business owners, city representatives, public safety representatives, and community partners.
Asked at City Hall
At the August 18, 2026 council meeting, Mayor Troy Brumbalow took on the worry about crime directly. He shared what came back when the City pulled the numbers for the two properties the Cumming Housing Authority already owns.
"Just because you don't make X amount of money doesn't mean you're a bad person."
The figures he gives are for the two properties owned by the Cumming Housing Authority, over the 12 months before the meeting. They are not about the Cottages of providence, which is not built yet.
Read the transcript
And I'd asked the chief. What you always hear is, assisted living, you know, it's gonna be crime-ridden. Well, we pulled the stats. Zero crime, zero calls. Any violent crimes, any drugs, anything. Two properties owned by the Cumming Housing Authority, in the last 12 months. Just because you don't make X amount of money doesn't mean you're a bad person.
Questions we get asked
Will this increase crime in Cumming?
No. The Cottages of providence provides housing and support to neighbors who are already living in this community without suitable housing. The neighborhood will be professionally managed, with background screening, clear rules, case management, and consistent accountability. Stable housing is one of the most reliable ways to reduce the crises that generate police calls in the first place.
Is this a shelter?
No. It is not an emergency shelter, an encampment, or a drop-in center. It is a residential neighborhood of individually leased homes with property management, on-site services, and rules that residents sign.
Will people come here from outside the county?
No. Every resident must document a local connection to Cumming or Forsyth County.
Will sobriety be required?
Just as sobriety is not a requirement for renting a home in the private housing market, it is not a condition of housing here. Illegal drug activity is prohibited by the lease and the community rules, and residents who violate their lease can be evicted. Residents who want help with recovery, treatment, or counseling will be connected to it.
Is this rent assistance?
No. Rent assistance helps in an emergency, but it does not create housing, and it does not work long term when someone simply cannot afford local rent. The Cottages of providence creates homes that stay affordable.
Is this a faith-based community?
The Cottages of providence is inspired by the Catholic tradition of service that has motivated St. Vincent de Paul volunteers for nearly two centuries. As a housing provider, St. Vincent de Paul Georgia operates in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local law. Housing is open to eligible residents without regard to religion, and participation in any religious activity is neither required nor expected.
What happens if someone breaks the rules?
The same thing that happens in any rental community. Depending on the seriousness, that ranges from a conversation, to a written warning, to a corrective plan, to eviction. Serious violations can result in immediate action.
