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DeKalb committee defers Housing First homelessness plan; seeks budget, timeline and partners
Summary
PECS deferred action on resolution 2024-1273 to develop a countywide Housing First unhoused plan. Commissioners requested budget estimates, a revised timeline and coordination with the Continuum of Care and other providers; staff said they would return in two weeks.
The DeKalb County Planning, Economic Development and Community Services Committee deferred consideration of resolution 2024-1273, which would establish a county plan to address homelessness grounded in the Housing First model, and asked staff to return with additional budget estimates, an updated timeline and identified partners.
Bobby Van Vadimir (presenter) summarized the Housing First approach as a systems model that pairs immediate housing with wraparound supports and noted that the county’s existing Continuum of Care (CoC) coordinates HUD funding for unhoused services. He said the proposed county plan would not replace the CoC but would seek to “enhance it” by unifying additional stakeholders including behavioral health providers, hospitals and local health partners. Organizations named during the discussion included Emory, Grady, Caring Works and Mercy Care; staff also referenced a behavioral-health coalition that is concluding a review and that the unhoused planning effort would build on that work.
Commissioners discussed project timing and funding. Staff noted the county budgeted $250,000 in July of the previous year for a housing plan; they said it was not yet clear whether those funds would fully cover the unhoused planning effort and that additional facilitator, survey and focus-group costs might be needed. Commissioners asked whether the timeline in the resolution — a June 30, 2025 completion date — was achievable; staff and a commissioner suggested pushing the date later (October 2025 was discussed) and agreed to produce a budget ballpark and timeline for March 1 budget considerations. Staff said they expected to present a closeout from the behavioral health coalition in February and to begin a broader unhoused planning coalition in March.
Commissioners moved to defer the resolution for two weeks to allow staff to provide cost estimates, a recommended timeline and more details about partners and the role of a soon-to-be-onboarded housing director. The motion to defer passed by voice vote. Staff said they will return with additional details and supporting documentation for consideration at the next committee meeting and will coordinate with coalition partners and the county administration on funding options.
