ATLANTA — After a 49-year-old man was killed during actions to clear a homeless encampment near Ebenezer Baptist Church in mid-January, the Atlanta City Council introduced a new ordinance to create a Homelessness Task Force.
The council is expected to vote on the ordinance Monday, the same day that a funeral is held for Cornelius Taylor, the man killed by a Department of Public Works vehicle on Jan. 16 while clearing out the encampment he was staying in.
While a separate ordinance was proposed by members of the city council to, for now, stop encampment sweeps, the move to create a task force comes in answer to calls for a citywide review of policy regarding the homeless population.
According to the legislation, 25-R-3086, despite ongoing efforts to honor commitments by city leaders to “ensure that individuals and families in need within the City of Atlanta have access to shelter from the elements as they regain stability in their lives and seek permanent housing,” there remains a need for solutions that actually provide that stability.
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In order to align resources to make that goal attainable, members of the Atlanta City Council want to “foster collaboration among key stakeholders” and review and implement new, innovative ways to house those experiencing homelessness, the legislation says.
Additionally, the council members’ legislation says a comprehensive examination of how Atlanta addresses those experiencing homelessness and addresses immediate needs is necessary so they can create sustainable solutions and empower those seeking stability and self-sufficiency.
To do that, the city council will vote on whether to establish a new task force.
If the vote passes, the task force would be charged with an examination of current policies and procedures to see if they adequately address the current needs of people experiencing homelessness. They would include outreach services, encampment closings, medical and mental health care, family reunification and warming centers.
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The group will meet every two weeks and make reports to the mayor and Atlanta City Council within 45 days of the approval to start, and make a final report 90 days after starting.
The legislation also includes an order that encampment closures will be halted for at least 45 days unless the individual location “poses a significant public safety or health hazard,” and that reports from the task force will include recommendations for new standard operating procedures for encampment management, outreach services, medical and mental health services and family reunification.
The reports will also have to include comprehensive analysis and assessments for homelessness trends, root causes of homelessness in the community and the community’s priority needs, as well as a strategic plan for homelessness solutions, a multi-year roadmap for goals, strategies and milestones for reducing homelessness in the city and a resource mapping analysis for existing resources and services, and the current gaps.
Recommendations must also be included for nonprofits, healthcare providers, law enforcement, housing developers and other stakeholders to be involved and engage the community to foster public awareness, reduce the stigmas surrounding homelessness and engage people in community member solutions.
As drafted, the legislation creates a task force of 33 members, with each seat appointed by the following organizations, not needing approval by Council confirmation:
- The Atlanta City Council
- City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office
- Atlanta Police Department
- City of Atlanta Department of Public Works
- Georgia Department of Community Affairs
- Georgia State University
- Fulton County
- Invest Atlanta
- Atlanta Housing
- Central Atlanta Progress
- Atlanta Downtown Improvement District
- Atlanta Committee for Progress
- Partners for HOME
- Gateway Center
- Intown Cares
- Safe House
- Hope Atlanta
- Housing Justice League
- Restoring One’s Hope of Atlanta
- Georgia Works
- Beautiful Closet
- Church of the Common Ground
- Antioch Urban Ministries
- Antioch Baptist Church North
- Central Outreach and Advocacy Center
- Traveling Grace Ministries
- Wheat Street Baptist Church
- Ebenezer Baptist Church
- Salvation Army
- Mercy Care
- Atlanta Dream Center
- Hosea Helps
- U-First
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