Emory Homeless Immersion Project

Working with Peachtree and Pine Shelter (also known as the Metro Atlanta Task Force for the Homelewss), the largest homeless shelter in Atlanta, during the homeless immersion trip in 2016, my heart sink to hear the shelter is finally going to close down after battling the City of Atlanta, Emory Hospital and other organizations for years. I don't know the whole story of who is right or wrong and the legal matters involved, but all I remember was the kindness and dedication the volunteers and staff there had toward the men and women who had no other options other than this shelter. It was a hellish place compared to the other shelters because it was severely underfunded and accepted most individuals. Despite these circumstances, the staff continued working to serve the people at the shelter. It was the last resort for many other than the streets. Many did choose the streets rather than live there. I just hope that the City of Atlanta (and even Emory) can live up to its promise in making sure all the men and women in the shelter are housed in other facilities before the end of the year.

What's next for the homeless at Peachtree-Pine shelter? Although Atlanta’s largest homeless shelter is scheduled to change hands at the end of August, it will remain open for at least another month until its residents have been placed in other facilities and housing programs. That’s the first message that Jack Hardin, co-chairman of the Regional Commissi...