Category: Poverty & Equity

By Kala Farrare, LCSW-C, LCSW, Sr. Director of Clinical Operations At Hope Atlanta, we are building a behavioral health program rooted in the realities of homelessness, where safety, stability, and trust must come first. Traditional outpatient models assume a baseline of security. But for someone living on the streets or in survival mode, behavioral health […]

Homelessness is more than just a housing issue—it’s a public health crisis affecting communities across North America and around the world. Mental health struggles and substance use can put people at greater risk of losing their homes, and once someone becomes homeless, the stress and trauma of that experience often make these challenges even worse. […]

When most Atlantans think of MARTA, they think of movement: trains, buses, the daily flow of a bustling city. But for those without a place to call home, MARTA is often the last place of shelter when every other option has disappeared. Recognizing this sobering reality, Hope Atlanta and MARTA forged an innovative partnership—MARTA HOPE—to […]

Across Atlanta, there’s a silent crisis pushing thousands closer to homelessness: medical debt. For many residents, the financial strain from one health emergency can quickly become overwhelming. In a city where affordable housing is increasingly hard to find, medical debt has quietly become a powerful force, driving families toward eviction. Nationally, this crisis is huge. […]

Across Atlanta, an invisible crisis is quietly reshaping family life. Grandparents, once planning for retirement, are stepping back into parenting to raise their grandchildren. It’s a hidden chapter of the housing crisis that rarely makes headlines, but it’s quietly transforming lives across the city. Over the past decade, the number of grandparents serving as primary […]

In Atlanta, homelessness is no longer confined to the streets. It’s creeping into places where stability once seemed certain. Families working full-time, grandparents raising grandchildren, and individuals drowning in medical debt are all facing the looming threat of losing the roof over their heads. These pressures, stacked upon one another, are tipping people into housing […]

If there’s one thing we’ve learned in our first year at The Melody, it’s this: lasting change only happens when you treat the whole person. If you only provide housing without mental health support, the housing won’t last. And if you only offer mental health care without housing, it’s nearly impossible for someone to heal. […]

Homelessness is no longer confined to downtown streets. It’s in grocery store parking lots, hotel rooms, and the backseats of cars. Today’s unhoused neighbors are working families, students, veterans, and individuals who’ve experienced just one unexpected setback. Atlanta’s affordable housing crisis—compounded by systemic failures and a shortage of 70,000 affordable homes—has left thousands teetering on […]

Homelessness isn’t just a humanitarian issue; it’s an economic one. When people lose housing, businesses lose employees, healthcare costs rise, and public services are strained. The cost of inaction is high, but investing in housing strengthens Atlanta’s economy. At Hope Atlanta, we see this firsthand every day. It’s the father working two jobs who still […]

Nonprofits working to end homelessness face an uphill battle every day. Even in the best of times, the road to stable housing is filled with obstacles—rising housing costs, limited funding, and growing demand for services. Now, with the looming threat of a government shutdown, the challenge is even greater. For thousands of Atlantans who rely […]

For 125 years, Hope Atlanta has been a beacon of support for our neighbors in need, including those experiencing homelessness. While housing-first strategies are often debated in policy circles, the true measure of their success lies in the lives they transform. But let’s be clear—housing-first is not just about putting people into homes. It’s about […]

By Julio Carrillo, CEO of Hope Atlanta  What Happens If the Safety Net Disappears? For decades, I’ve dedicated my career to leading and strengthening nonprofit organizations. I’ve seen firsthand what happens when mission-driven organizations are financially vulnerable—when they lack the resources to pivot in a crisis, the reserves to withstand funding shifts, or the independence […]

Today’s the Last Day! Please RSVP by clicking here. The gala will be held at the Atlanta History Center at 6pm on Thursday, March 30, 2023, and includes a cocktail reception, live entertainment – with a special performance by the Atlanta Women’s Chorus, dinner, live auction and more. Please join us and Honorary Chair Ambassador Andrew Young as we celebrate Lucy […]

RSVP by March 21, 2023 The gala will be held at the Atlanta History Center at 6pm on Thursday, March 30, 2023, and includes a cocktail reception, live entertainment – with a special performance by the Atlanta Women’s Chorus, seated dinner, live auction and more.  And former Families First board member Monica Kaufman Pearson will serve as emcee! There […]

Please join us for Families First inaugural “Loving the Legacy” fundraising gala. We are so grateful for the community, organizations and individuals who have provided philanthropic support to help us fulfill our mission – Building resilient families so all children can thrive. Every donation helps Families First deliver essential services to families in crisis. We cordially invite you […]

Click here to learn more about the Families First – 2023 Loving the Legacy Fundraising Gala Have you heard? We are super excited to announce that Monica Pearson will be our emcee for Loving the Legacy! Families First invites you to mark your calendars for our new signature fundraising gala “Loving the Legacy” on Thursday, March 30, […]

Families First partners with the 2023 HBCU All-Star Battle Of The Bands & College Fair scheduled Saturday 2/4/23.  Join us as the Battle is Back! 6 HBCUs and 2 High school marching bands will leave it all on the field to a crowd of 50K+. For Battle Of The Bands sponsorship, contact Peyton Van Schalkwyk at  peyton@allstarbattleofbands.com For Battle of the Bands […]

A few years back, after a rough childhood and early adulthood, I joined the Weaver Gardens Independent Living Program at Families First. Through that experience, I gained the support and the life skills I needed to thrive. Families First taught me practical life skills like how to open a bank account, get a car, and apply […]

This week, we pause to celebrate all that we have to be thankful for – but just a few years ago, I felt so hopeless, it was difficult to feel gratitude toward anything. My first semester of college was cut short by the devastating passing of my son just four days after his birth. I […]

Families First recently announced it received a grant from Bank of America to help support mental & behavioral health services and navigator case management. The $55,000 grant is aligned with Bank of America’s efforts for workforce development that will support Families First’s goal to strengthen families by offering a holistic approach and a host of […]