Darn Neat

Sort It Out


Task Force For The Homeless Needs Your Help


Posted :: June 23, 2009 | 1:57 pm ::

Task Force For The Homeless Needs Your Aid

Email from local activist and Sopo Bicycle Co-Op cofounder, Rachael Spiewak:

Today I’m at Task Force for the Homeless standing with folks who deserve dignity like you and me. Some of the guys who stay here help me fix bicycles five days a week. They are good hearted people.

Task Force for the Homeless had their water and electricity shut off last night with 575 homeless sleeping here. This is a major human crisis in our city!

Right now TFFTH needs 3 things now.
1. Cold Water.
2. Bodies for Service.
3. People to help plan for an action this afternoon as they have a public hearing scheduled.

Please consider dropping what you are doing and coming down. The address is 477 Peachtree Street.



8 Responses to “Task Force For The Homeless Needs Your Help”

  1. Kristen Says:

    While I agree that everyone deserves drinking water and basic sanitation, this shelter is a disservice to the city. It does nothing for its residents besides encourage their long-term homelessness, and allows behavior that encourages crime. Residents here find others with the same addictions and problems, not help or assistance to get out of homelessness. If anything, the city should help residents find shelter through other agencies that are making a difference in tapering homelessness in Atlanta.

  2. Ben Grad Says:

    Kristen, I don't know your background, but you sound like someone repeating what they've been told about the Peachtree and Pine Shelter.

    Please visit the shelter. Please volunteer at the shelter. Please talk to the residents.

    Then, see whether your original comment is valid.

  3. rachael Says:

    Thanks, Tessa! It was a fantastic day fighting for what's right. We need to be kinder to each other, and we shouldn't punish people because we don't like the way the city or institutions handle things, no matter what side of the argument you prefer. Access to water is a human right.

  4. Christin Says:

    I agree with Kristin! I've worked as a social worker and visited all the shelters in the city and it is horrible what is going on here now but this stuff has been going on for YEARS at this location!!! Women with kids sleep in desks during the winter with NO heat. The people that work with the homeless on a daily basis have been working to get rid of this shelter because of all the crime, at least 2 people were murdered there last year. The homeless deal drugs here and have no one to look over them. There are many other “working” shelters in the area that have improved the lives of the homeless and even gotten them into housing! We need to make sure that the people at the Taskforce are told to go there for assistance. Really this is one of the worst run shelters in Atlanta. I know because I worked in the field and saw it every single day.

  5. christin Says:

    Honestly, if you haven't been working with the homeless for years you would have NO idea what this shelter has done for the homeless! They provide nothing but a place to lounge and use drugs all day. People have no will to change at this location and they treat them like animals. No human should be treated this way, that is why this shelter must be closed. There are so many great programs like Positive Outlook that will take people off the streets and put them into housing, offer them case management, and help them recover from drug addiction or get on mental health meds. I really don't understand why so many hipsters and churches suddenly think it is “cool” to help the homeless here when really they have no idea. Go work at Grady on the 13th floor, or volunteer at the United Way. We need to do what is best for these people and the best thing would be to close this shelter! It does nothing for the homeless. You can't just bring them water and think everything will be alright, that is like putting a band aid on a open wound. Really, let's do are research and make a REAL difference and close this shelter.

  6. christinP Says:

    .

  7. Name Says:

    That’s hilarious.

    That dumb negro should be going to the hose and getting a drink if he needs water… These people are so lazy and ingrained dependent upon the govt, they will die of thirst in a river unless it’s poured down their throat for them.

  8. Name Says:

    That's hilarious.

    That dumb negro should be going to the hose and getting a drink if he needs water… These people are so lazy and ingrained dependent upon the govt, they will die of thirst in a river unless it's poured down their throat for them.

Leave a Reply