Mayor Kasim Reed Announces Push to End Veterans Homelessness in the City of Atlanta in 2015
ATLANTA – May 21, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Mayor Kasim Reed announced today that the City of Atlanta has made significant progress in its effort to move all homeless veterans into permanent supportive housing, putting the city on a path to meet President Obama’s goal of ending veteran homelessness across the country by 2015.
“No one who has served our country should have to sleep outside,” said Mayor Kasim Reed. “Because of the progress the City of Atlanta and our partners have made, our goal of moving all homeless veterans into permanent, supportive housing is within sight. Through collaboration and cooperation, we can solve veterans homelessness in our city this year.”
The City of Atlanta Continuum-of-Care will work with federal, state and regional partners on a series of short-term campaigns, starting with a push to house at least 300 veterans in the next 100 days. The Continuum-of-Care will then work to house at least 75 veterans each month to reach the goal of housing all homeless veterans in the city by December 31, 2015.
“I believe this collaborative effort between the city, federal, state and local partners, will be the key to ending veterans homelessness in the metropolitan Atlanta area,” said Leslie Wiggins, Director of the Atlanta VA Medical Center, who joined Mayor Reed for today’s announcement. “Stakeholders are breaking down barriers, agreeing on common goals and establishing the pathways to serve this deserving population. Together, with the leadership of Mayor Reed, we will house all veterans in Atlanta by the end of 2015.”
Today’s announcement comes at the conclusion of a series of workshops with the City of Atlanta Continuum-of-Care, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), the Bureau of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, the Atlanta Housing Authority, Dekalb Housing Authority, Fulton County and the United Way of Greater Atlanta.
These partner groups came together to develop the 100 day push to house 300 veterans and subsequent efforts to house 75 veterans per month until the end of the year. These groups will continue to work together on a long-term, strategic plan to eliminate chronic homelessness in the metropolitan Atlanta area.
Mayor Reed signed on to President Obama’s White House Mayor’s Challenge to End Veterans Homelessness in 2012. As part of a national campaign with 14 cities, Atlanta not only exceeded the goal of re-housing 100 chronically homeless veterans in 100 days, but also housed more homeless veterans than any other city as part of this challenge in the United States.
Veterans in need of supportive housing are invited to call 404-574-1681 for resources and help. Individuals and organizations seeking to support the partnership to end veterans homelessness are invited to donate through the United Way of Greater Atlanta by visiting https://epledge.unitedwayatlanta.org/Common/UserRegistration.jsp.
Unsheltered No More is one of several initiatives supported by the Mayor’s Innovation Delivery Team, which is funded by a $3.3 million grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies. Situated in the Mayor’s Office, the Team brings rigorous focus and best-in-class practice to identifying powerful solutions, developing implementation plans, and then managing for results. Atlanta is one of five cities to receive an Innovation Delivery Team grant. Part of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Mayors Project, Innovation Delivery Team grants were also awarded to Chicago, Louisville, Memphis, and New Orleans.
Contact
Jenna Garland, Press Secretary
404-330-6612, office
404-357-5579, cell
Anne Torres, Director
404-330-6423, office
404-904-2618, cell
