Tech for Change Housing Access and Stability Mini-Hackathon

Working in interdisciplinary teams, students will experiment with data and technology-based solutions to housing problems in partnership with local government and non-profits.

Students will learn about housing access and instability issues in the Metro Atlanta area and explore uses of data and technology in the public interest. The mini-hackathon will target two problems related to housing access and housing stability.

1) Housing Access Project

The state of Georgia allocates funds to support affordable housing development through the Housing Tax Credit Program. The state uses a set of criteria to “score” potential affordable housing development sites, e.g. proximity to a school, grocery store, etc. Using property listing data from LoopNet API and the scoring criteria, students will explore ways to automate the process of identifying high-scoring sites and—in doing so—help target resources to places where affordable housing is needed the most.

2) Housing Stability Project

Georgia’s Magistrate Courts handle eviction filings, but in some courts, large percentages of cases remain dormant after filing, never proceeding to a settlement, hearing, or trial. Some research suggests that landlords file an eviction action at the first nonpayment of rent, but then fail to dismiss the action when the tenant pays. This leaves lingering eviction actions on the courts’ dockets and on a tenant’s record, which can affect a tenant’s credit score and ability to get future housing. Using eviction case data from Clayton County, GA, students will analyze eviction court records to investigate patterns in the data in cases that proceed to a conclusion versus those that remain dormant after filing.

Agenda

9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Continental breakfast and registration

10:00 - 10:15 a.m.
Welcome and introduction to hackathon logistics

10:15 - 11:15 a.m.
Problem introductions

• Housing Access and the Georgia Housing Tax Credit Program
  James Alexander, President, Mercy Housing Southeast
• Housing Stability and Eviction Filings
  Georgia Magistrate Court Judges

11:15 - 11:30 a.m.
Break

11:30 a.m.
Pick up box lunches and begin work in teams

3:30 p.m.
Finish work in teams

3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Team presentations

4:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Awards and reception

Prizes and Badges

All students will receive $100 for participating at the close of the event. Participants will also receive a 2025 Public Interest Technology Tech for Change Hackathon Badge issued as an Open Badge. Teams will be eligible to win additional prizes based on the quality of their work together and their final product. Finally, each team will have the opportunity to direct a donation to one of several housing-related organizations.

Code of Conduct:

This mini-hackathon is a community event intended for innovation, collaboration, and engagement with data and technology in the public interest.

We value the participation of each member of the community and want all participants to have an enjoyable and fulfilling experience. Accordingly, all attendees are expected to show respect and courtesy to other attendees throughout the event.

To make clear what is expected, all attendees, speakers, and volunteers at the event are required to conform to the following Code of Conduct. Organizers will enforce this code throughout the event.

Be Respectful
Be kind to others. Do not insult or put down other attendees. Behave professionally. Remember that harassment and racist, sexist, or exclusionary jokes are not appropriate for this event.

Be Bold
In the spirit of innovation and collaboration, we encourage every participant to contribute as much as they can to their team’s project. Students will come with a variety of technical and non-technical skills, and all are essential to a team’s success. Learn from each other and don’t be shy! Ask plenty of questions and speak out your ideas. There is no judgment here.

Be Open
We welcome attendees from all backgrounds and skill levels - from “never been to hackathon before” to experts. Be open to any and all ideas, thoughts, and feedback. We are creating big ideas this weekend!

Be Awesome
Do your best. Prepare something to show others and something you can stand behind. Represent your team and your university proudly! You will be interacting with professors, government officials, tech leaders, and policy experts in the field.

Attendees violating these rules may be asked to leave the event at the sole discretion of the organizers. Additionally, we are not responsible for any lost, stolen or damaged personal items that are brought to the event.

Thank you for helping make this a welcoming, friendly event for all.

Questions?

Contact:

• Adam Pah (apah@gsu.edu)
• Charlotte Alexander (charlotte.alexander@scheller.gatech.edu)

Sponsors:

• Public Interest Technology University Network
• Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University
• Institute for Leadership and Social Impact, Georgia Tech
• Law, Data & Design Lab, Georgia Tech