Athens' Commission debates Homelessness

Several people voiced their concerns about Athens-Clarke County’s homelessness problem at the Commission’s agenda setting meeting, sparking an intense debate among commissioners about housing issues. Steve Phillips, Director of the Stable Foundation, an organization that provides housing to Athens' individuals and families, said Athens is ready to deal with homelessness issues.

“This community is ready and willing to help those people who can't help themselves,” he said, asking the commissioners to grant his foundation funding. “We just think we could put these funds to the best use.”

From Journ3410

Fox 5 news story on Homeless in Athens

ATHENS Ga. (MyFOX ATLANTA) - While Fulton County has the highest homeless numbers in the state, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb and Athens-Clarke Counties trail behind it.

A busy road in Athens leads to a trail which leads to a tent city.

"It seems to be smaller in size than it has been," said Paul Lazzari of the homeless advocacy group, the Stable Foundation.

The homeless village has been in has been in Athens for 17 years.

According to the state, there are about 500 homeless people in Athens.

video link and entire story

Homeless Count

Source ACC HED

Block grant distribution quieter this year

Four agencies - the Athens Area Homeless Shelter, Interfaith Hospitality Network, Advantage Behavioral Health Systems and AIDS Athens are recommended for homelessness-related funding.
Several commissioners said they want to add a new nonprofit that helps the homeless, The Stable Foundation, to the list this year.

entire article at Banner Herald

What's Happening in Portland

We believe that at any point in anyone's life that they can become homeless...and they don't have to stay that way.

The mission of Transition Projects is to serve people's basic needs as they transition from homelessness to housing. Each year we serve more than 9,000 people.

Thanks Doreen and Rosemary

Local grab for stimulus begins

from bannana herald
full article

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced Wednesday that Athens will receive $396,000 in Community Development Block Grants and $605,000 to help people who are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless. The Athens Housing Authority is in line for another $2.6 million to modernize public housing.

The block grants can be spent on just about anything - economic development, social services and infrastructure - in four poverty-stricken East Athens and Hancock Corridor census tracts. The homelessness money is for rent assistance, security and utility deposits, moving expenses, credit counseling and case management, said Keith McNeely, director of the Athens-Clarke Human and Economic Department, the local agency that oversees HUD funding.

"If you can get these folks stabilized in their home life, it's going to give them a better opportunity to, first of all, go out and look for a job," McNeely said.