DeKalb committee backs workgroup to refine unhoused support plan and fold priorities into comprehensive housing plan

The PEX committee voted to approve a substitute resolution directing staff to convene a stakeholder working group to refine and prioritize recommendations from a previously convened unhoused-planning stakeholder team and to integrate adopted recommendations into the county's comprehensive housing plan.

Commissioner Longspeers, the sponsor, said the stakeholder group's original package (presented January 6, 2026) contained many constructive ideas, and the substitute language was narrowed to ensure technical review, operational feasibility, fiscal responsibility and legal permissibility prior to adoption. Dr. Allan Ferguson and Director Mitchell described the substitute as a pragmatic step to convene subject-matter experts, community stakeholders and relevant county departments (community development, Continuum of Care representatives) to prioritize pathways that are implementable and fiscally sound.

Commissioners asked that staff and the working group incorporate operational and technological ideas raised during discussion (for example, county-refurbished phones for Wi-Fi access and communications by residents experiencing homelessness). The substitute resolution passed; the committee added Commissioner Terry as a co-sponsor and asked staff to convene the working group and report back with recommended next steps and implementation metrics.

Attribution: Statements attributed to Commissioner Longspeers, Dr. Ferguson and Director Mitchell are drawn from the transcript.

Ending: Staff will convene the working group and deliver recommendations that will be folded into the county's comprehensive housing plan for further board action.