When Gov. Brian Kemp on Wednesday announced a $50 million Homelessness Response Grant “to tackle homelessness right here in our capital city” and other cities across Georgia, it stirred excitement and speculation among Atlanta’s advocates for unhoused people.
Kemp’s Jan. 14 announcement at the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s annual Eggs & Issues Breakfast was light on specifics but brimming with promise — an unprecedented $50 million commitment to ameliorate street-level homelessness from a state that primarily relies on federal funding to address the problem.
Kemp said the state would pair the $50 million in grant funding with matching funds from local governments and nonprofits. It will subsidize emergency shelters, transitional housing, street outreach teams, and supportive services, including mental healthcare, substance use treatment, and other needs, he said.
“Through very targeted use of funds, this grant will act as a force multiplier to complement the good work already underway by Mayor Dickens and other champions on this challenging subject,” Kemp said. ”It will ensure that every stakeholder has equal skin in the game.”
The timing of Kemp’s announcement is noteworthy: The news comes amid an ongoing legal challenge from a coalition of Democratic-led states over the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) November announcement that it will unilaterally overhaul the grant application process for almost $4 billion in Continuum of Care grant funding for homeless services. HUD aims to scrap the country’s long-established Housing First approach in favor of a more punitive, treatment-first approach.
Kemp suggested that the state’s $50 million matching grant to get unhoused people off the streets will prepare Atlanta for the FIFA World Cup soccer tournament, which kicks off in June and is expected to draw some 500,000 visitors.
“When people from around the world visit our capital city in the coming months for the FIFA World Cup, they will not only see a state with a thriving economy, but also one that cares about its people and helps those willing and able to work for it to access those opportunities,” he said.
Atlanta Civic Circle reached out to local nonprofit leaders to find out what they want to see the state’s homelessness services grant money used for. Here’s what they said:
Tensley Almand, president and CEO, Atlanta Mission:
Atlanta Mission is grateful for Governor Kemp’s efforts toward ending homelessness in our communities through holistic care, and we’re hopeful that this funding will contribute toward programs and services that produce lasting change for our unhoused neighbors.
Tim Franzen, Atlanta Economic Justice Program director, American Friends Service Committee:
Really every dollar should be spent quickly developing housing units and wraparound services to not only house folks, but also provide the support they need to remain housed.
Leading up to the Olympics we built a jail to imprison the unhoused during the games. Let’s have the World Cup’s legacy be providing housing and services that get and keep folks off the streets. That would be a win for everyone and a legacy that makes us all proud.
Kellie Glenn, chief development officer, Hope Atlanta:
Governor Kemp’s commitment of $50 million comes at a critical moment for homelessness service providers across Georgia. As we face ongoing uncertainty and increasing needs among those experiencing homelessness, this investment is meaningful to organizations doing frontline work every day.
At Hope Atlanta, we see how place-based outreach works when services are delivered intentionally and by experienced teams, meeting people where they are — on transit, near the airport, and within the communities they call home.
With the right investment, outreach teams can deepen their impact and connect people to critical services that support stability and self-sufficiency, including mental health care, housing navigation, and ongoing case management — work that requires expertise, coordination, and a deep understanding of the communities being served.
Cathryn Vassell, executive director, Partners for Home:
I’m hoping these funds will be used to support exiting people out of homelessness as quickly as possible with the right complement of supportive services. It is our hope that the funding will be deployed quickly and strategically to scale initiatives that have demonstrated efficacy in our community today, like street outreach, permanent supportive housing and rapid rehousing.