COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — City Council also heard initial plans for a task force to tackle homelessness in Columbus.
The idea was proposed two weeks ago when council asked organizers to bring back a draft plan for tonight's meeting.
Pat Frey and Ben Moser of United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley presented a plan to form a homeless solutions group. The presentation highlighted the goals and timeline of the Homeless Solutions Group. This includes developing an actionable strategic plan to address our community's homelessness challenge.
The groups listed to inform this process include the following:
- Faith Leaders
- Homeless Service Providers
- Those with lived experience
- Landlords
- Workforce Development
- Public Services/Government
- Law Enforcement/Corrections/Community
Supervision - Dept of Community Affairs
- Dept of Housing and Urban Development
- Georgia Tech
- GAINS Center
The task force would meet regularly and present a final strategic plan to council by mid-2026.
Costs for the plan total at $34,748, with $4,000 for Supportive Housing Institute and research expenses, $28,848 for professional facilitation, and $2,500 for incidental costs.
Council did not take a vote today. District 4 Councilor, Toyia Tucker suggested waiting until federal funding guidance is clearer. While District 1 Councilor Byron Hickey suggested looking back at an older city plan instead of starting fresh.
"Two weeks ago, Council asked us to present to them today a draft of a plan to put together a group to focus on coming up with actual steps or pursuing a strategic plan for homelessness, solutions in our community." United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley Vice President, Pat Frey said. "We presented that plan today. So, it's up to the council to decide whether they want to move forward on that or not."
Frey says homelessness is up 11% this year, with rent 43% higher than just three years ago. And with many programs seeing funding cuts, United Way warns the community is nearly maxed out on resources.
"I'm hoping the city is going to say yes, we want to go ahead and put the plan together. Yes. Let's go ahead and do this." Said Frey, "If we need to tailor some things, let's have that discussion. But, failing to plan means we're not we're not going in any direction."
Columbus City Council's next steps for this taskforce are unclear at this time. As Frey said, "we're in a wait and see."
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