Athens-Clarke County Commissioners are expected to vote tonight on a $4.96 million spending package aimed at addressing the rising number of unhoused people in the county.
As it currently stands, the plan would spend around one million dollars to staff and begin operations for the Athens Homeless Coalition. Another half million would go towards the creation of an emergency shelter plan.
The largest chunk of the proposed spending package – around $2.8 million – would be allocated to fund three new programs: an increase in low-barrier and emergency shelters, access to physical healthcare, and homelessness support services. Contracting for those programs is expected to happen in May, and the proposal up for a vote tonight also includes $550,000 in funding for the Salvation Army’s homeless shelter to help it increase its existing capacity.
Also up for a vote tonight is a proposal to rename the Rocksprings Park and Community Center in honor of Christine W. Howard, a long-time leisure services employee who served the community for 36 years.
Supporters of the renaming have collected over 1,000 signatures, including more than 100 residents who live within one mile of the park. Changing the signage, if commissioners approve the renaming, is expected to cost around $27,000.
