Athen’s New Approach to Tackling Homelessness Shows Promising Results
In a bid to address homelessness more effectively, the Athens Homeless Coalition has unveiled a new strategy. This initiative, highlighted during this week’s annual update to the Athens-Clarke County Commission, has already begun to reshape the understanding of homelessness in Athens.
The coalition, which plays a pivotal role in coordinating efforts to combat homelessness locally, is led by Executive Director Michael Bien. During his presentation on Tuesday, Bien emphasized the significance of the city’s recently updated Coordinated Entry System, describing it as “the most up to date in the state.”
“Every other community, every other city in Georgia use the old tried and tested system developed in the 1990s and has several flaws in it,” Bien pointed out, emphasizing the need for innovation in tackling homelessness.
This new Coordinated Entry System equips organizations across Athens with a tool to survey individuals experiencing homelessness, offering a more comprehensive view of their needs.
Within the past year, approximately 900 individuals, including almost 200 children, have been evaluated through this system. Notably, it has facilitated housing for over 40 people by aligning them with available housing opportunities.
These recent findings present a notable contrast to the data collected by the Athens-Clarke County government during its 2025 Point-In-Time Count, which recorded just over 500 people as homeless.
