Atlanta’s Homeless Opportunity Fund

Presentation by Paul BolsterSupport Housing LLC

National Alliance to End HomelessnessJuly 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 – ATLANTAColumbia at Sylvan Hills

Resources

Subsidy500 Section 8 Vouchers from the Atlanta Housing Authority

ServicesPrivate Donations $10 million

CapitalHomeless 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

First Step Housing

Atlanta Gardens

Martin Manor

Martin Manor

Columbia at Sylvan Hills

Columbia at Sylvan Hills

Columbia at Sylvan Hills

Information

Atlanta Development Authority– www.atlantadevelopment.com– Download the HOF application

Regional Commission of Homelessness– www.unitedwayatlanta.org/homeless

Support Housing LLC– www.supporthousing.org

Support Housing LLC

Paul Bolsterbolsterp@bellsouth.net