The Augusta Commission’s Homeless Task Force Subcommittee continues to refine the needs, current resources and other issues regarding how to find affordable, sustainable housing for the homeless.
Commissioner Jordan Johnson, co-chairman of the task force, turned the Sept. 16 meeting over to Lynda Barrs, resource development director for CSRA Economic Opportunity Authority. She is also chairwoman of the task force’s action committee, the group that will write the final plan to present to the commission.
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Seven groups have been formed, each tasked to research a different aspect of how people end up homeless, Barrs said.
“There are some goals that we want to meet,” she said. “One of them is to improve health and stability. To do that we have brought together a group of health professionals from rehab centers, licensed social workers, hospitals. This group is going to be led by Dr. Faye Hargrove and they are going to be looking at strategies around mental health, addiction and access to health care.”
Deputies from the Richmond County Marshal’s Office are also part of the task force. Barrs said they have been locating and cataloging homeless encampments in all areas of the county.
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Daniel Evans, planning development supervisor from Augusta’s Housing and Development department, said the results of the 2020 Point in Time sheltered and unsheltered count found 470 people living in shelters or on the street.
“Just the visible unsheltered homeless situation in Augusta has increased to a level I’m not familiar with,” he said.
Evans said part of the problem is a lack of permanent, supportive housing, especially to help those who experience chronic homelessness. In the 2020 count, Augusta had 95 people in that category. Augusta has only 22 units of permanent, supportive housing, which is the same as when Evans arrived in Augusta seven years ago.
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Barrs said the seven groups named at the recent meeting will bring back action plans.
“This is what we can do to improve our community. This is what we can do to improve this service. This is how we can strengthen this,” she explained. “We’re going to look at those strategies and decide what the priorities are, what is the most important?”
Jordan noted the meeting was attended by some people who were there for the first time.
He said, “I think folks are starting to see what we’re trying to accomplish and are reaching out to be a part of what we’re doing.”
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com.
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