Savannah is taking two major steps in its evolving approach to affordable housing and homelessness. The first is the grand opening of Dundee Cottages, a new community of small, fully furnished homes designed to help individuals and families transition out of homelessness. The second is the federal demolition process now underway for Yamacraw Village, one of the city’s oldest public housing developments. Together, these actions reflect both progress and uncertainty in how the city addresses housing for its most vulnerable residents.

A New Model for Supportive Housing

Dundee Cottages introduces thirty-nine new homes on Dundee Street, adjacent to The Cove at Dundee, a village of tiny homes built for veterans. Each cottage includes a kitchenette, private bath, built-in furnishings, and a front porch. A resident services building offers a computer lab, laundry, kitchen, classrooms, and counseling spaces. Monthly rents range from about $650 to $850, including utilities.

The development was created through a collaboration between the City of Savannah, the Chatham Savannah Land Bank Authority, the Community Housing Services Agency, and the Chatham Savannah Authority for the Homeless. The project cost approximately $6.4 million and is part of the city’s larger Housing Savannah Action Plan. It aims to give residents stability, independence, and access to on-site services that promote long-term housing success.

The Chatham Savannah Authority for the Homeless, which manages Dundee Cottages, describes it as a “flexible housing development.” Residents are selected through the city’s coordinated entry system that prioritizes those experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The cottages can accommodate roughly 120 people across several floor plan designs, reflecting a shift toward smaller, community-based solutions that combine affordable housing with supportive programming.

A Landmark Housing Complex in Transition

While new units are opening on the city’s east side, Savannah’s west side is facing the possible loss of hundreds of affordable homes. The Housing Authority of Savannah has applied to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to demolish Yamacraw Village, a historic 315-unit public housing complex that has housed generations of families since the 1940s. City officials have completed an environmental review and issued a Finding of No Significant Impact, clearing the first procedural hurdle toward demolition.

Officials cite age, structural deterioration, and costly maintenance as the reasons for removal. However, there is no approved redevelopment plan, and the notice makes clear that any new construction would require a separate review process. Residents have expressed concerns about relocation, voucher acceptance, and the absence of a guaranteed right to return once the site is redeveloped. Community advocates have also raised questions about preserving Yamacraw’s historical and cultural significance.

Housing Progress and the Bigger Picture

Savannah’s 2024 homeless count identified 579 individuals living without permanent housing, down from 745 the previous year. While the decline suggests progress, the demand for permanent supportive housing continues to outpace available units. Dundee Cottages is a tangible step forward, but its scale—thirty-nine cottages—underscores the magnitude of the broader challenge.

Yamacraw Village represents the other side of the equation. If demolition proceeds before a clear redevelopment plan is in place, the city could temporarily lose more than three hundred deeply affordable homes. That would place additional strain on an already tight rental market and could offset gains made through smaller new developments. The timing and coordination between removing and replacing housing stock will be critical to maintaining affordability for current residents.

Questions for Public Consideration

The city’s housing efforts raise important questions for policymakers and residents alike. Will there be a firm commitment to rebuild deeply affordable units at Yamacraw, and will displaced residents be able to return? How will voucher holders fare in Savannah’s competitive rental market? Can smaller projects like Dundee Cottages keep pace with the loss of aging public housing? And how will the city balance historic preservation, affordability, and neighborhood revitalization as it modernizes its housing infrastructure?

Savannah’s leadership faces the challenge of achieving progress on multiple fronts: expanding affordable housing, protecting vulnerable residents, honoring historic communities, and managing federal compliance. The coming months will show whether the city can maintain that balance as both Dundee Cottages and Yamacraw Village shape the future of housing for Savannah’s most at-risk neighbors.

Sourcing and References

• City of Savannah – Dundee Cottages Press Release: savannahga.gov/newsflash/home/detail/3234

• Savannah Morning News – “Savannah cuts ribbon on new cottage homes set to help homeless community” (Oct. 17, 2025): savannahnow.com

• WJCL News – “Dundee Cottages Grand Opening” (Oct. 16, 2025): wjcl.com

• Chatham Savannah Authority for the Homeless – Housing Initiatives: homelessauthority.org/housing-initiatives

• City of Savannah – Yamacraw Village Environmental Review: savannahga.gov/4000/Yamacraw-Village

• Savannah Morning News – “As Yamacraw Village faces demolition, alternative housing hard to find” (Oct. 16, 2025): savannahnow.com

• Savannahian – “Still no resolution for Yamacraw residents in wake of proposed demolition” (Oct. 2025): thesavannahian.com

• Chatham Savannah Authority for the Homeless – The HOME Fund: homelessauthority.org/the-home-fund

Prepared and published by E-Safe Community Reporting, October 2025.