The Hidden Cost of the "One Big Beautiful Bill": What Cobb County Needs to Know

At Family Promise of Cobb County, our mission is to help families experiencing homelessness achieve lasting independence through community support. As a nonprofit rooted in Marietta and deeply invested in the lives of families across Cobb County, we are sounding the alarm about a federal proposal that poses a significant threat to the sustainability of organizations like ours.

The bill in question is nicknamed the "One Big Beautiful Bill" (OBBB) — a sweeping piece of legislation passed by the U.S. House on May 22, 2025, and now making its way through the Senate. This bill contains a number of policy shifts that, while framed as fiscally responsible, would devastate the nonprofit sector, especially organizations providing direct services to families experiencing homelessness.

In this blog post, we'll explain what the OBBB is, why it matters to those who care about advocacy, homelessness, and nonprofits in Cobb County, and how you can take action before it reaches the Senate floor.

What is the "One Big Beautiful Bill"?

The "One Big Beautiful Bill" (OBBB) is a federal budget reconciliation bill intended to extend certain tax policies while making deep cuts to federal programs. Supporters claim it reduces the national deficit and boosts national defense, but it does so by shifting costs onto working families, nonprofits, and vulnerable populations.

Among other changes, the bill would:

• Make permanent the 2017 federal tax changes tax cuts for corporations and high-income individuals

• Raise the cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions

• Expand military and border security spending

• Cut funding to programs like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and Medicaid

• Eliminate or weaken renewable energy tax credits

• Introduce new taxes and fees that directly impact nonprofit organizations

Why This Matters for Cobb County Nonprofits

Organizations like Family Promise of Cobb County rely on a mix of private donations, public grants, and in-kind community support. The OBBB jeopardizes each of these.

1. Tax Hikes on Nonprofits: The bill expands the unrelated business income tax (UBIT), imposes stricter rules on nonprofit compensation, and disincentivizes charitable giving. These changes would reduce the operating budgets of small- to mid-sized nonprofits.

2. Reduced Charitable Deductions: While a universal charitable deduction of $150 per taxpayer is reintroduced, it is significantly less than existing Senate proposals. This lower limit disincentivizes mid-level giving—the kind of recurring support that sustains organizations like FPCC.

3. Cuts to SNAP and Medicaid: These programs serve many of the same families we do. Cutting them means families have fewer safety nets, increasing their risk of homelessness and intensifying their reliance on nonprofits.

4. Administrative Burdens: The bill would also increase reporting requirements, straining the limited administrative capacity of many grassroots organizations.

   
   

How It Affects Families Experiencing Homelessness

Marietta and the greater Cobb County area are not immune to the national housing crisis. Local families face skyrocketing rents, limited shelter availability, and underfunded mental health services. The OBBB worsens these conditions by:

• Weakening Medicaid, making it harder for families to access care

• Reducing SNAP benefits, putting children at greater risk of food insecurity

• Disincentivizing donors from giving at a time when need is increasing

FPCC knows firsthand how fragile the path to housing stability can be. In 2024 alone, we helped over 20 families avoid or exit homelessness. But our success depends on a strong ecosystem of support—an ecosystem that OBBB would erode.

A United Nonprofit Response

Family Promise of Cobb County is not alone in raising concerns about provisions in the bill that would impact service delivery. In June 2025, Family Promise National joined hundreds of nonprofit organizations across the country in signing a joint letter to Congress, urging lawmakers to reject harmful provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill.

Coordinated by leading advocacy networks, the letter emphasized:

Organizations who signed on include:

• Family Promise National

• National Council of Nonprofits

• United Way Worldwide

• Habitat for Humanity

• Feeding America

You can read the full letter here: Over 2,000 nonprofits unify

This unified message makes one thing clear:

• Nonprofits are sounding the alarm together.

• Congress must listen.

Where the Bill Stands Now

The OBBB passed the House on May 22, 2025. It is now in the hands of the U.S. Senate, where debate is ongoing. The Senate voted 51–49 on June 28 to open the bill for discussion. The current goal is to pass the bill before July 4, 2025.

Several harmful provisions were initially stripped by the Senate Finance Committee for violating budget rules, but many—including those affecting nonprofits—remain in place.

We must act quickly to protect our mission, our families, and our community.

Take Action: How You Can Help

We need your voice. Here’s how you can take action:

1. Call Your Senators

   • Jon Ossoff: 202-224-3521

   • Raphael Warnock: 202-224-3643

     
     

   Sample Script:“Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I live in Cobb County. I’m calling to ask Senator [Ossoff/Warnock] to oppose the One Big Beautiful Bill. This bill includes provisions that may impact nonprofit funding, reduce access to safety net services like SNAP and Medicaid, and affect incentives for charitable giving.”

2. Contact Your Representative

   • If you live in Marietta: Barry Loudermilk (R-11)

   • Other areas of Cobb County may fall under Lucy McBath (D-6) or David Scott (D-13)

   • Use house.gov to confirm

3. Share This PostAmplify the message. Use hashtags like #ProtectNonprofits, #CobbCountyCares, and #FamilyPromise.

4. Donate or VolunteerStrengthen FPCC’s ability to serve. Your support helps fill the gaps left by public funding cuts. Visit www.fpcobb.org/give

   
   

The Cost of Silence

The One Big Beautiful Bill may have a catchy name, but its consequences are anything but beautiful for the people of Marietta and Cobb County. If passed in its current form, it will strip away essential funding, increase burdens on nonprofits, and threaten the health and housing of vulnerable families.

At Family Promise of Cobb County, we believe that every child deserves a safe place to sleep and every family deserves a fair chance. We urge our community to stand with us in opposing this bill.

Raise your voice. Protect your neighbors. Defend the future.

Take Action Now →