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To: CEO THURMOND, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR COX, DEKALB COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

URGENT! COLD WEATHER CRISIS FOR THE HOMELESS IN DEKALB COUNTY

We, the undersigned DeKalb County residents, believe the issue of the unhoused in our community has reached a crisis point. Our unhoused are the most vulnerable on these cold winter nights, which have been here for over a month and have a long way yet to go. At these freezing temperatures, our neighbors have a high risk of dying of hypothermia if they remain on the street. Is that what county leaders want?

So far, the county has chosen to only open three warming centers with minimal services to serve the entire county. Transportation is not provided and the fire stations now open do not serve those in the Central or Northern parts of this county.

In addition, information about the warming stations is not available in time. When we finally do find out, it’s too late to let people know. The county’s communication personnel must know that weather can be accurately predicted in advance and act accordingly.

Then we hear from county officials that the warming centers are hardly utilized. This is to be expected when the word gets out so late and no transportation is available!

So far, we have heard reports of at least 20 families desperate for help, not counting the hundreds of single people, and there will be many more. The families tell us they are sleeping on the street and in their cars with their little children. What is the county waiting for? We demand the following:
,
1.) Open more warming centers throughout the county with adequate food, water, shelter, and wraparound services.
2.) Communicate openings at least 48 hours in advance of freezing nights.
3) Provide transportation for the unhoused to these centers.

Why is this important?

There is an affordable and accessible housing crisis throughout all of metro Atlanta. Our unhoused neighbors are the most extreme manifestation of this problem. DeKalb County has chosen to provide the minimum of services so our neighbors don’t freeze to death. This is unacceptable. It’s time for the county leaders to step up, to stand up, and do the right thing not only for the unhoused but also for the hundreds who wait for years for housing and services. All people are deserving of dignity and respect. All people have a human right to shelter and housing. This is an urgent matter of life and death. Don’t let another freezing night go by without taking action.
Dekalb County, GA, USA

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Updates

2022-02-18 03:07:11 -0500

1,000 signatures reached

2022-02-15 10:30:32 -0500

https://postimg.cc/Sn1RxdJx

897 SIGNED! PLEASE HELP US REACH 1000 THIS WEEK!
On February 9th, a "House the Unhoused Now!" protest was held demanding improvements to DeKalb warming centers. The protest was organized by the Coalitions for Diverse Decatur/DeKalb, Beacon Hill Black Alliance for Human Rights, the Justice for All Coalition, and A Home for Everyone in DeKalb. Besides adding more warming centers, other demands included offering food, water, cots, and wraparound services, providing the community with more advance notice when opening centers, providing transportation to shelters, and addressing more than 300 people on a waiting list for shelter. A diverse group of interfaith clergy and community representatives spoke. Our coalition will continue its work on issues related to the unhoused throughout the year. Please share this petition which will be presented to the DeKalb County Commission at their next meeting on Tuesday, February 22. Thank you for your support!

2022-01-24 18:45:33 -0500

OVER 600 HAVE PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED THIS PETITION! LET'S TAKE IT TO 1000!

Thank you for signing this petition and for forwarding it to others. With pressure on DeKalb county to improve services for our unhoused neighbors during cold nights, the county has allowed those in a warming center to stay all night rather than just 1 hour. The county has also given somewhat earlier notice about the opening of warming centers. But there still need to be more warming centers. The current warming centers are only in the southwestern part of the county. There is documented need in the northern and eastern part of the county as well. We still demand better services including food and water, as well as, transportation, even earlier and better notice of openings, and transportation. Please continue to share this petition with friends, family, neighbors and any groups you belong to. THANK YOU!

2022-01-18 15:46:47 -0500

500 signatures reached

2022-01-16 11:36:53 -0500

100 signatures reached

2022-01-16 10:07:35 -0500

50 signatures reached

2022-01-16 08:48:38 -0500

25 signatures reached

2022-01-15 21:01:19 -0500

10 signatures reached