Atlanta's Largest Shelter Fights City for Water

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http://atlantaprogressivenews.com/news/0474.html


The Metro Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless won a temporary injunction and restraining order against the City of Atlanta to have their water turned back on so that they can negotiate a payment plan with the City.

The largest homeless shelter in the Southeast US, the Task Force houses up to 700 homeless men per night, and provides day services for both men and women, including women with children.

The City shut the water off yesterday for a second time. The first time was in December 2008. The Task Force also won an injunction to get its water turned back on then, and entered into a payment plan with the City.

The Task Force did make at least the first couple payments towards that agreement. However, Executive Director Anita Beaty told Atlanta Progressive News they have fallen behind on their current bills.

"For months, the Task Force has been engaging in good-faith bargaining with the city of Atlanta and the Department of Water, attempting to negotiate a mutually acceptable payment plan," the Task Force said in a press release.

"The Task Force has tried to pay its past due bill but it was denied."

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"The purpose of the City's actions has been to drive MATH from its location at Peachtree and Pine."

Beaty and others at the Task Force have long made the argument that the City has been trying to drive them off Peachtree Street.

Indeed, Mayor Shirley Franklin and her staff have made no secret about their opposition to the Task Force. Mayor Franklin cut the City's funding for the Task Force, and removed the City's funding recommendation for the Task Force to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, causing the Task Force to lose federal funding as well.

These cuts, initiated by the City, have resulted in millions of dollars of losses to the Task Force, leaving the Task Force with only a fraction of its previous budget.

Meanwhile, the Mayor has pushed her pet project, the fairly new Gateway Center, which as previously reported by Atlanta Progressive News, has questionable practices as a model serving homeless people.
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"The largest homeless shelter in the Southeast US"

[Javaman]

1. Let me guess, the shelter sits on prime real estate they the city wants to build condo's on? nt

[ProgressiveProfessor]

2. The quotes appear to contradict each others...

- They had an agreement but could not keep up
- They tried to pay the bill but were denied

Not sure how both could be true...