On Thursday, May 8, multiple North Georgia service agencies stationed at His Hands and Feet Ministries in Cleveland for a groundbreaking effort to support White County’s unhoused population.
The event marked the launch of the Street Exit initiative — a collective response aimed at connecting individuals experiencing homelessness with vital resources.
New to White County, the Street Exit program offers access to food, clothing, ID recovery, housing assistance, legal aid, veteran services, benefits applications, and Medicare/Medicaid marketplaces. The program is currently staffed by six service providers and supported by up to ten volunteers.
According to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, at least 65 people are experiencing homelessness in White County, though that number is likely higher.
Mike Fisher, housing and planning manager for the Ninth District and a lead organizer of the event, said homelessness often remains hidden from public view. Many individuals live in wooded areas or sleep in vehicles parked discreetly.
To address this, Fisher said the Ninth District is developing a new “parking program” that would provide single mothers a safe, undisclosed location to park and access services.
Fisher pointed to a lack of affordable workforce housing as a key contributor to homelessness in North Georgia, compounded by financial hardship. He noted that substance abuse is more often a consequence of homelessness rather than a cause, with many falling into a “reptilian mindset” focused solely on survival. Breaking that cycle, he said, is a major challenge.
“This is about creating awareness,” Fisher said. “A lot of the homeless in this area are going to be people living in cars…we have the things needed so they can get comfortable, less miserable, and we can start the administrative stuff to help get them connected to the resources.”
Filling a void
Among the participating organizations was the Democratic Party of White County. Outreach Chair James Sweeney and several volunteers prepared to distribute kits containing essentials such as socks, nail clippers, snacks, bottled water, and other supplies.
“We’ve been working with a lot of different social services agencies to try and get out there to support them and be in the community,” Sweeney said. “The Democratic Party is 100% behind supporting (Fisher) and helping people who are homeless.”
Nacoochee Presbyterian Church was also present. Outreach Committee Chair Mark Griffin joined fellow congregation members to distribute hygiene and first-aid kits.
“We took an interest some time ago in reaching out to the homeless population,” Griffin said. “This is the first opportunity in White County, and since we’re in White County, we wanted to be a part of it.”
Janet Patterson, shelter services coordinator for Family Promise, attended to raise awareness of the organization’s shelter services in nearby Clarkesville. She encouraged those interested in eligibility criteria to call 706-865-7725.
“We have a singles unit now in Habersham,” she said. “We used to only have a families unit, so we’re looking to get the word out to people who are homeless.”
Nearby, paralegal Toni Telenta represented Georgia Legal Services, offering free legal help to qualified individuals. She highlighted their support for people facing public benefits issues, evictions, and landlord disputes.
“Our attorneys help a lot with public benefits issues,” Telenta said. “If their benefits get terminated or their denied their application, or if they think they’re getting the wrong amount, they can call us. Our attorneys also do a lot of housing work, so if someone is facing eviction or having problems with their landlord, our attorneys can help.”
She added that the organization also assists with domestic violence cases, including restraining orders and divorces. “We represent anyone under 60 regardless of their income,” she said. “If they’re under 60, they have to be under a certain income limit.”
At least two additional organizations participated, united in their mission to address homelessness in the region.
“We’re so glad this is finally up and running, and we’re here to support however we can, help get it promoted and find other organizations who might can be a part of this,” said Nanette Baughman, executive director of Family Promise.
Jeff Edrington, founder of Will U Help End Isolation, arrived in a van filled with backpacks and supply kits marked with the message “Will U help?” Each kit, intended for the unhoused, contained personal essentials. On the back of the bags were the words: “Hire Me For” – followed by a space left blank for its carrier to fill in.
What sets Will U Help apart is its use of technology to facilitate reconnection. The group helps individuals record short video messages to send to estranged family or friends. Using databases and social media, the organization attempts to locate loved ones and, with permission, then reunites them.
“Instantly, somebody is off the street the next day,” Edrington said. “To us, that’s a huge success. That’s the success we want.”
Moving forward
Fisher said more than 150 families were served following the Street Exit event Thursday, and with plans to continue the program at the same location once a month, he believes the White County event will grow in time. The objective, he said, is to eventually reach individuals coping with homelessness and inform them there is a place to go.
“Right now, our thinking is that if we can at least get something started, even if it’s one time a month, then it’s something we can build on,” Fisher said. “Here’s the place they can go.”
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