Homelessness
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Q&As
Q&A: BOE Member LaKeisha Gantt Sees Mayoral Run as ‘Next Step’
LaKeisha Gantt, Clarke County Board of Education former president and current member, is campaigning in the 2026 Athens-Clarke County mayoral election. Q: As someone who has lived in Athens your whole life, what inspired you to run for mayor? A: It wasn’t really one single moment or turning point. It’s…
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Athens-Clarke County
Athens Considers Next Steps After Closure of First Step Encampment
First Step, a government-sanctioned homeless encampment that opened in early 2022, will close on Dec. 31 of this year. Athens-Clarke County government is closing the encampment while it looks to find a more permanent solution to homelessness. As a result of the closure, unhoused individuals cannot stay at the encampment…
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Athens-Clarke County
Athens Alliance Prepares to Open ACC-Funded Houseless Encampment
In August 2021, the Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission approved the opening of a government-sanctioned houseless encampment behind the former North Athens School on Barber Street. Since then, the county government has been working with the local non-profit that will serve as encampment’s operator, Athens Alliance Coalition (AAC), to create…
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Athens-Clarke County
“From A to B to Z”: The Sparrow’s Nest Commits to Community-Based Approach to Poverty
“Putting people experiencing poverty on track “to go on to the next step: from A to B to Z…” That, in Executive Director James Scott’s words, is the traction-gaining tactic of The Sparrow’s Nest. The Athens-based nonprofit organization is exploring an alternative plan of attack against the city’s age-old poverty…
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Athens-Clarke County
Homeless Shelters in Northeast Georgia Prepare for Colder Temperatures
When temperatures drop below 35 degrees, the Athens-Clarke County Fire Department allows the Bigger Vision of Athens homeless shelter to take in an extra 10 people—more than the 34 people who are experiencing homelessness who usually stay every night. Bigger Vision Executive Director Andrew Wilkin said about half of the…
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Athens-Clarke County
Understanding Athens-Clarke County Seniors Who Are Food, Housing Insecure
Arlene Stern imitates the life of a University of Georgia college freshman. She has hallmates. She loves roaming downtown by the Georgia Theatre. She had a different life before settling in Athens. Yet, Arlene is not a student. She does not live in a dorm. She avoids downtown past dinnertime.…
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Athens-Clarke County
Weighing Solutions: Parking Meters, Panhandling in Athens
This is one of several Solutions Journalism stories published through a Grady capstone course that reported on housing issues during the fall of 2018. On any given day, downtown Athens is home to multiple people with signs that read, “Homeless, please help.” It is also home to four parking meters that…
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Athens-Clarke County
Project Safe Provides Rental Assistance to Domestic Violence Survivors Who Are Homeless
This is one of several Solutions Journalism stories published through a Grady capstone course that reported on housing issues during the fall of 2018. Being able to fix one part of a problem doesn’t mean being able to fix everything. Catherine Garrett, the director of rapid re-housing at Project Safe, helps…
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Athens-Clarke County
Interfaith Hospitality Network Unites Area Congregations to Combat Homelessness
This is one of several Solutions Journalism stories published through a Grady capstone course that reported on housing issues during the fall of 2018. Comprised of 42 area congregations representing a wide variety of faith backgrounds, the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Athens (IHN) unites the city’s religious under one common goal—housing…
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Athens-Clarke County
Abundant Life: Director Helps Those in Homelessness Climb Farther ‘Up The Mountain’
This is one of several Solutions Journalism stories published through a Grady capstone course that reported on housing issues during the fall of 2018. Andrew Wilkin is the executive director of Bigger Vision Community Shelter in Athens, Ga. He’s also the man who started the shelter’s new program called Abundant Life. The…