IS CLOSING PEACHTREE-PINE A GOOD SOLUTION FOR HOMELESSNESS?

Atlanta and The United Way have pledged more than $50 million toward alleviating homelessness in the downtown area. Subsequently, the largest shelter, Peachtree-Pine will be closed.

From my standpoint as a resident and a community leader in my East Lake neighborhood, there is very little information offered about what is to happen to make better the lives of those confronted by this change or how it will affect city neighborhoods. I am sure there is a plan. Could (the city) come to our neighborhood meetings and lay out their ideas and expectations for success? My fear is that the city is decentralizing the problem to make it less visible just down the street from city hall. I am also very concerned that neighborhoods are deliberately being kept out of the conversation so that the city leadership does not have to suffer the certain NIMBY (Not in my back yard) outrage that will always come with an announcement that a new homeless shelter is heading to a street near you. Oh, and that building on Pine Street may have attracted the attention of some powerful developers now that our economy is improving. To be fair, the stories I have heard about Pine Street Shelter are awful. I have said for years that if you are a lost dog in some parts of this city, you will find a hot meal, bath, medical care, a warm place to sleep, and someone on Facebook to find you a permanent, loving home. If you are a lost human, you will find Fulton or DeKalb county jails waiting for you, or possibly even worse, the nightmare on Pine Street. So, what’s the plan to make that better? —Kyle Caldwell President, 2017, East Lake Neighbors Community Association Founder, President, Neighbor in Need Inc.

Almost 99 percent of the occupants in this building are African-Americans, therein lies the problem! Racism is alive and well in Atlanta even though we’ve had a black government for many years. Many of the people who occupied that space has never really had a home in this country. For 246 yeas our ancestors were slaves, then another 100 years on plantations as sharecroppers. Then forced off the the plantation with the coming of automation in farming into the urban ghettos and public housing. When the African Americans moved into Atlanta “white flight” became the reality. . Atlanta is a prime example of a city with black political leaders without real power. The population of Fulton County is now majority white and “black removal” is in full force! Another 500plus from the shelter. — Joe Beasley, vice-chair of the Task Force for the homeless.

PAMELA MILLER FOR THE AJC