Snellville resident and council members press city on homelessness and late‑night transit gaps

During public comment at the June 22 Mayor and Council meeting, resident Curtis Hairston urged city leaders to address the lack of shelter options and limited late‑night transit that make it difficult for some residents to get home after evening events. Hairston described repeated attempts to contact city officials and local churches and said, "There's no shelter here," adding that limited bus service can leave people with no way to return home after meetings or work.

Hairston also told the council he believes the people he sees living on Snellville streets are predominantly Black and said visible homelessness can escalate community tensions when needs go unmet. He said he had to leave the meeting early because of bus schedules and urged officials to act to prevent conditions that drive desperation.

Several council members acknowledged the concern. Councilmember Cat Hardrick described a growing homelessness presence in the city and said she was working with other municipalities to identify possible responses. Mayor Pro Tem Norman Carter said Gwinnett County is establishing a task force and encouraged residents to volunteer via gwinnettcounty.com; he also outlined federal and state resources available to veterans and suggested outreach to veterans who may be eligible for HUD and other benefits.

Council members asked residents to report public‑space trash and other quality‑of‑life issues to code enforcement so the city can respond. Council members emphasized that some sites are outside city jurisdiction (for example, federal property) and that some solutions — shelters and broader social services — involve county, state or nonprofit partners.

The city did not announce an immediate new shelter or transit program at the meeting; council members said they would pursue available partnerships and urged residents to keep reporting issues to help staff prioritize responses.