On Wednesday, March 18th, the Northwest Community Alliance (NCA) presented their first panel on the issue of Homelessness in Atlanta. NCA Chair Mike Koblentz wrote in the event invitation that “One can not talk about smart growth or all the great strides that are now happening in this city-from the Beltline, to increased job growth, to impending infrastructure improvements, to streetcars, active and involved neighborhoods, a corporate culture that is civic minded, and a civil and human rights legacy and way of life, without dealing with people who struggle daily without the most basic of needs.”
The panel consisted of 5 speakers listed below and in the attachment you can find out more about them and their organizations:
- Vince Smith – Executive Director – Gateway Center
- Jack Hardin – Chairman – United Way Regional Commission on Homelessness
- Bill McGahan – Founder and Chairman – Georgia Works!
- Ed Powers – Executive Director – Hope Atlanta: Programs of Travelers Aid
- Stacy Horn Koch – Interim Executive Director, Atlanta Homeless Continuum of Care
Two main topics emerged throughout the conversation: an increased supply of affordable housing in the city as a tool to end homelessness and an over-arching disagreement on the disjointed approach to homelessness in Atlanta (i.e. the current situation at Peachtree and Pine).
WCA Graduate Assistant, Jeshua Pringle, was left pondering a few questions:
- Can tax breaks on property taxes to offset the cost of affordable housing be provided at a local level? Can the City of Atlanta mandate affordable housing on the front end and give development incentives with lower property taxes over time?
- Can the City of Atlanta create an ordinance requiring developers to have a unit or two dedicated to homelessness? Alignment with a program like Georgia Works could be a requirement for housing.
- How can Georgia Works or other training programs be paired with the new bond referendum? Could this be an opportunity to decrease Atlanta’s homeless population while funding low skill jobs?
- What are the joint metrics of these programs? How many people do they serve and how do they impact the number of homeless persons in Atlanta. How do the numbers mentioned compare to the whole? Evaluating the total impact would be helpful to understanding the role these organizations play.
