Atlanta’s Homeless Opportunity Fund Presentation by Paul Bolster Support Housing LLC National Alliance to End Homelessness July 29, 2008

A Collaborative Solution – A Brief History The Call to Action In November 2002, Mayor Shirley Franklin asked the United Way to lead a broad-based community effort to develop an action plan addressing homelessness

A brief history continued... – Building the Plan United Way convened a 16-member Commission on Homelessness in December 2002 The Commission carried out a comprehensive process during an approximate 90-day window Mayor Franklin and the Commission on Homelessness unveiled the Blueprint to End Homelessness in March 2003 – Implementing the Plan Commission expanded to Regional Commission in 2003 Seven County governments and Atlanta appointed members

Five Year Plan for 1200 Supportive Housing Units Type – Gateway 24/7 Homeless Service Center with 300 beds – Assessment Centers (90 day stay) – Transitional – Permanent

Supportive Housing – ATLANTA Columbia at Sylvan Hills

Resources Subsidy 500 Section 8 Vouchers from the Atlanta Housing Authority Services Private Donations $10 million Capital Homeless Opportunity Fund Grants of $22 million

Leadership Mayor Shirley Franklin – Challenged the Bond Counsel City Council Champion Debi Starnes – Challenged the Council Business Leader Horace Sibley – Challenged the Mayor United Way – Challenged the Community

Funding Sources Legislature authorized special tax on rental cars at the airport for promotion of tourism Tax Allocation Bonds pay off parking lot debt Council authorizes bond sale by the Atlanta Development Authority Court validates the bonds Bond issue closes—funds to trustee

Critical Decisions Lawyers and courts determine that homeless housing benefits tourism Project approval from the Atlanta Development Authority and not the City Council Tax revenue committed before legislators tried to access it for a NASCAR museum

Program Guidelines Flexible Waivable Reportable Accountable 15-year commitment

Guidelines Grants limited to $40,000 per unit or bed Other capital expected Service plan and service provider—promotes collaboration Two year service budget commitment Only unoccupied units or expensive relocation plans Limit of 40 units in one place or 20% of units in a larger project

Collaborative Approval Process Atlanta Development Authority approves housing finance, design, construction budget Regional Commission/United Way approves service provider, plan, and budget Neighborhood and district City Council member must be informed but approval not required

Other Funding Service fund of the Regional Commission/United Way--$10 million Housing Authority Section 8 Vouchers Georgia Supportive Housing Fund Low Income Housing Tax Credits Private Foundations

Results—20 Projects All funds will be allocated in 3 years (December of 2008) 12 projects are operational 4 projects under construction 3 projects approved and waiting on a closing 1 pending approval

Results Total Grants--$22,403,331 Other Capital -- $95,853,259 Total units/beds effected – 1586 Assessment Center beds – 233 Permanent Units – 437 Five public self-cleaning toilets

Geographic Distribution

*Converted City Jail *$10 per year lease *Atlanta Union Mission, operator *Broad community collaborative *Downtown location (near jail, courts, and police) *Four story facility *270 programmed beds

Columbia Tower at MLK Village

Trinity Hall

Quest Village – under construction

First Step Housing

Atlanta Gardens

Martin Manor

Columbia at Sylvan Hills

Information Atlanta Development Authority – – Download the HOF application Regional Commission of Homelessness – Support Housing LLC –

Support Housing LLC Paul Bolster