Intown Cares Announces New Community Partnership to Address Homelessness in East Atlanta
Partnership collaboratively funded by Atlanta City Council members Liliana Bakhtiari and Matt Westmoreland, the City of Atlanta administration, and East Atlanta Community Association
ATLANTA – October 11, 2023 – Local nonprofit organization Intown Cares, a leader in addressing homelessness and hunger in Atlanta, today announced a new partnership to combat homelessness in the East Atlanta community. The partnership, which began on October 1, is collaboratively funded by Atlanta City Council members Liliana Bakhtiari (District 5) and Matt Westmoreland (Post 2 At Large), the City of Atlanta administration, and the East Atlanta Community Association (EACA). Initial discussions about targeted homeless services support started in the summer between Intown Cares, Councilmember Bakhtiari, EACA President Chase Miller, and community member Ishita Chordia.
“Our communities face unprecedented challenges. Between the housing affordability crisis, soaring costs of living, and pervasive drug epidemic, supportive health services are being pushed to the brink,” said Councilmember Bakhtiari. “Rather than assigning blame or holding onto hope, we’re taking concrete steps by introducing a dedicated case manager to East Atlanta for a reliable, consistent presence to assist our most at-risk and vulnerable community members. I thank all of my partners in this effort: Councilmember Matt Westmoreland, Mayor Andre Dickens’ Office, Intown Cares, East Atlanta Community Association, and all of those who played a role in realizing this first-of-its-kind intervention in Atlanta.”
“We’re so proud of how our community has stepped up to support this amazing initiative,” said Miller. “Over $10,000 of the funding was raised from members of the community just in the past two weeks, in addition to a generous donation of $10,000 from the East Atlanta Strut. We see this as a first step toward tackling homelessness in our community and are excited for what will come next.”
Chordia, the East Atlanta resident who brought the necessary parties to the table to make this happen is thrilled that the community is experimenting with compassionate ways to support the local unhoused population. “Homelessness is a huge challenge and it’s critical that neighborhoods start playing a larger role in finding solutions,” said Chordia.
Intown Cares Homeless Services Team Leader Michael Nolan has been assigned as the dedicated case manager for the community. Nolan has been providing support to neighbors experiencing homelessness in East Atlanta a couple of days a week since February.
“This is groundbreaking stuff. I can’t remember another time when citizens, community groups, businesses, and government all came together to make a partnership happen on this scale,” said Nolan. “I’m excited to bring Intown’s unmatched outreach and support to a part of Atlanta that’s very important to me. East Atlanta isn’t just the neighborhood I serve, it’s the neighborhood I call home.”
A trauma specialist, Forensic Addiction Counselor, and harm reductionist, Nolan teaches verbal crisis intervention and de-escalation for the National Anger Management Association and maintains addiction and behavioral health certifications. Occupying office space at Eastside Church, he will spend 40 hours per week in and around East Atlanta, utilizing Intown’s five-step model structured to help unhoused neighbors navigate a complex journey to housing.
In addition to the on-the-ground support Nolan will provide, East Atlanta businesses and residents will be able to ask questions and share concerns through a direct number (and voicemail during off hours).
“There will be several trainings for residents offered throughout the year on topics such as harm reduction, useful ways to support unhoused neighbors, and how to connect a neighbor in crisis with the appropriate resources,” said Intown Cares Executive Director Brad Schweers. “We are confident that this partnership will bring tremendous impact to the East Atlanta community.”
Founded in 2010, Intown Cares operates one of the largest, most innovative low-barrier food distribution programs in the Atlanta area. The organization also deploys one of the largest, most effective Homeless Services teams in the city that supports individuals experiencing chronic homelessness in navigating the journey to permanent housing solutions. Since 2016, Intown Cares has supported more than 1,000 individuals in moving into permanent housing solutions.
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About Intown Cares
Intown Cares is the nonprofit that goes the extra mile to help intown Atlantans meet their most essential human needs, food and housing. We specialize in serving those who have the hardest time getting housing make the transition to their own homes; and we provide easy access to food for any who need it. Intown Cares is defined by persistence. The people we employ, the process we follow, and the perspective we share are all guided by a single, unifying idea: solving hunger and homelessness requires imagination, flexibility, and a willingness to take the extra step.
Learn more: intowncares.org
Connect on social media: @intowncares
MEDIA CONTACT: [email protected]