The DeKalb City Council on Sept. 22 heard an overview of housing insecurity and homelessness in the city and county and asked staff to convene social service agencies and other partners to develop recommendations for council consideration.

Public speakers from local service providers described current work and gaps. Tanisha Clark, executive director of Family Service Agency (FSA) — the federally designated community action agency for DeKalb County — told the council that homelessness cannot be solved by criminalization and outlined recent results from community programs: FSA and partners helped 3,134 families toward long-term stability, 24 people moved into permanent housing, 145 lives were rebuilt after residential fires, and 588 people returned to work through employment supports over the past year (figures provided by FSA during public comment). Leslie Wicks, executive director of Hope Haven, said collaboration and outreach are keys and described practical limits at the shelter, including rules that exclude certain people (for example, some people with criminal records) and the shelter’s funding constraints tied to township and county support.

City staff emphasized that the purpose of the agenda item was not to adopt immediate policy but to test council interest in pursuing a coordinated response. The city manager said he and staff have toured Hope Haven, met with service providers and studied regional approaches; he suggested forming a more formal working group to bring recommendations to council and to consider whether budget priorities should shift to address immediate needs.

Council direction: Members agreed to pursue a formalized group to meet with service providers and stakeholders. The city manager said staff would send a proposed meeting date and follow-up materials by email and bring recommended next steps, including any needed budget adjustments, back to the council.

What was said: Tanisha Clark (FSA) urged services that address root causes — poverty, trauma, substance use and access to mental health care — and described the continuum of shelter and wraparound services. Leslie Wicks (Hope Haven) described outreach efforts and operational limits, noting the shelter can’t serve certain categories of people and that many clients decline shelter for personal reasons. Council members and staff stressed partnering with existing nonprofit providers and using grant and CDBG funding where appropriate.

Next steps: Staff will convene a stakeholder meeting, gather information on gaps and funding, and return recommended actions or ordinance adjustments to council; FSA has indicated it will present a request to council on teen homelessness in the future.