I hope that everyone has had an enjoyable summer thus far. At Gateway Center, we have successfully assisted our guests with obtaining housing placements despite the significant shortage of affordable housing in Atlanta.

As a community, we have experienced a 38% reduction in our overall homeless count. In addition, increased funding in support of homeless services in Metro Atlanta has allowed Gateway Center to expand our supportive services to include critical programs that focus on Outreach, Diversion, and Prevention services. Beginning in October of 2020, the homeless service community, led by Partners for Home, successfully implemented an innovative housing strategy called LIFT 1.0, where 795 households experiencing homelessness received assistance and rapid rehousing. The success of this initial program laid the foundation for the launch of LIFT 2.0 this summer. Our goal as a community is to successfully house 1,500 households experiencing homelessness.

I am frequently asked, "What will it take to eradicate homelessness in Atlanta?" While I am not sure that we will ever eradicate homelessness, I am confident that it can be rare, brief, and non-recurring. To achieve this, it will require a collective mindset that embraces the attitude of Everybody Vs. Homelessness from the vast majority of our citizens. The needle has moved, and homelessness has been reduced in Atlanta due to increased collaboration by homeless service providers, unique private public partnerships, and the support of our local city government.

Addressing homelessness is not a perfect science, but we have lessons learned and evidence to prove what does work. Housing is a right and not a privilege. Only by our collective efforts can we ensure that there are safe, stable, and affordable options for our brothers and sisters experiencing homelessness. Through continued investments in effective strategies, crucial policy changes, innovative services, and holistic programs, like Gateway Center, I believe Atlanta can and will successfully address homelessness. I challenge you to find ways to join us in this fight. We look forward to partnering with you as we continue to make a difference in the lives on the individuals and families we serve!

Best,

Raphael Holloway, MA, LPC

Gateway Center CEO

When you visit Gateway Center, you will see "Everybody Vs. Homelessness" on our t-shirts, keychains, and lanyards. “Everybody Vs. Homelessness” encompasses the spirit of how we view Community Engagement at Gateway Center. We believe in everyone using their time, talent, and treasures to help end homelessness in Atlanta.

As the Director of Community Engagement at Gateway Center, it is my unique pleasure to help our organization live out this statement. My goal is to engage “everyone” as we strive to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring. Engagement occurs through a variety of different avenues.

One way you can engage with Gateway Center is through volunteerism. We have opportunities for individuals, families, companies, and groups to plug in and volunteer. There are opportunities to serve in our clothing closet, kitchen, engagement center, and more. Additionally, there is often a need for volunteers who have specific skills that can benefit our guests and/or our team. What are you good at? How can you use that skill to help others experiencing homelessness? How can you use that skill to help our team?

Community Engagement also focuses on developing relationships, informing communities, and creating networks or allies to coalesce around the issue of homelessness. Upon request, we have team members who go into the community to share with various audiences about homelessness and Gateway Center’s role in addressing homelessness in both the City of Atlanta and Fulton County. It is always a pleasure when we have the opportunity to share with a church, school, business, or club to help them gain a better understanding of homelessness. These engagement opportunities often result in partnerships in community, as others come alongside us and embrace the mindset of “Everybody Vs. Homelessness.”

Another great way you can engage with us is through donations. This may be a financial donation, a sponsorship, or a donation of much needed items. At Gateway Center, we are always in need of outreach items, clothing, washcloths, towels, etc.

To learn more about how you can make a difference through Community Engagement, reach out to me at dbenton@gatewayctr.org. I look forward to hearing from and collaborating with you!

Drew Benton

Director of Community Engagement

When Sheldon was released from prison in 2021, he found himself experiencing homelessness. In May of 2022, he arrived at our low barrier residential program, Evolution Center. Because of the wraparound supportive services, intensive case management, and coordination of care Sheldon received, he achieved several goals that he had set for himself. He received his birth certificate, a vital step in becoming document ready, and a critical step towards obtaining a housing placement. Because he did not have to worry about food or shelter, Sheldon was able to focus on and address several barriers that were preventing him from reuniting with his family. When asked about how Gateway Center contributed to his successful transition to housing Sheldon shared, “Although my stay was short, Gateway Center gave me the space necessary to clear my mind and create a plan that allowed me to reunite with family. Because my Case Manager challenged and pushed me to pursue my goals while working on myself, I’ve moved back in with my family and I’m excited about my future.”

Reginald moved to Atlanta from Houston, and he lived with family until 2019. Unfortunately, they moved back to Houston while Reginald remained in Atlanta. Reginald arrived at Evolution Center in June of 2022 with only the clothes on his back. While enrolled in the program, he received wraparound supportive services that assisted Reginald in obtaining employment, strengthening his faith, cultivating relationships, and ultimately in securing housing. When asked about how Gateway Center contributed to his successful transition to employment and housing, Reginald shared, “Because I didn’t have to worry about where my next meal would come from or where I would lay my head, I experienced the stability necessary to focus on achieving my goals. Because of the support and encouragement, I received from my Case Manager, I had the confidence necessary to obtain employment and the tenacity to pursue a housing placement.”

Gateway Center will host our 10th Annual Human Clay Event in person on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. at White Oak Kitchen & Cocktails. This year’s Human Clay Event is aptly themed, Building Bridges. Gateway Center’s vision to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring in Atlanta is powered by providing opportunities and building bridges for those we serve. By working together to break barriers for the most vulnerable, we Build Bridges that support and strengthen our community.

The Franklin-Hardin award allows Gateway Center to honor our history and the transformational leadership of two people who inspired the founding of Gateway Center - former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and our Board Chairman Jack Hardin. Through the support of the Hilton Foundation, Gateway Center recently renamed our annual award to celebrate the legacy of Mayor Franklin and Mr. Hardin by recognizing individuals who have distinguished themselves through their service to the community, promotion of equality, corporate citizenship, and generosity. In addition, their advocacy has inspired others to fight for our most vulnerable communities, including the homeless community. These individuals have exhibited courage, leadership, and a personal willingness and commitment to Build Bridges. This year we will honor and celebrate an Atlantan, Reverend Dr. J. Allen Milner, Sr., who has led a life filled with documented instances of Building Bridges.

Reverend Dr. J. Allen Milner, Sr. is the Senior Pastor and founder of The Chapel of Christian Love Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Rev. Milner demonstrates his leadership capabilities and his compassion in various capacities, but most particularly in his ministry to the homeless, impoverished, unemployed, underemployed, and all others who have been cast aside by society. In 1988, Rev. Milner led his congregation to support the establishment of Odyssey III, a community service facility for individuals and families experiencing homelessness located in downtown Atlanta. He now provides permanent housing with supportive services at Odyssey Villas for families and shared housing for women at Odyssey Oasis, a multi-site program. Food, clothing, and furniture are provided at the Chapel’s Resource Center. His ministry has served more than 2 million meals free of charge to those who were in need and has transitioned over 3,000 individuals from homelessness to permanent housing. Reverend Dr. J. Allen Milner, Sr. exemplifies our theme this year, Building Bridges.

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