Executive Director Gregory White in the Community

On January 9th, I celebrated my one year anniversary in the role as the Executive Director of A Home For Everyone In DeKalb. Some of the reasons I am grateful for the position I'm in are the connections I can foster to support our mission.

I was able to witness history seeing Mayor Tony Powers sworn in as the first African American male mayor in Decatur's 203 year history. Unhoused issues are a top priority for Tony Powers and other City of Decatur leaders. During the month I have attended DeKalb County Board of Commission meetings and DeKalb Continuum of Care meetings. From my view it is important that AHFEID is at the table talking with city and county leaders to stay informed and build healthy relationships to address the unhoused issues.

The month was moving really fast and I was invited to be on WABE's Closer Look with Rose Scott program. The panel and I were able to share concerns and solutions around housing, mental illness, heath, addictions, and a regional approach to address this pandemic of homelessness. Unhoused issues need a designated revenue stream and my thoughts were to tap into World Cup, NCCA Football, NBA, NFL and MLB outreach dollars. Think what a 2% gift can do for our cause!

AHFEID played a key role in recruiting women for the Workforce Development Program, in partnership with Georgia Works and Oakhurst Center for Community. Currently we have five ladies at the home and they are making the sometimes challenging transition from being unhoused to housing. The exciting piece of the puzzle is giving ladies with no income the opportunity to write a new chapter. 

For several years AHFEID has provided MARTA cards to assist the most vulnerable population get to warming centers early and not wait on vans that arrive after nightfall. Last winter (2024-2025) AHFEID provided a total of 1,318 MARTA cards to patrons when Decatur wasn't a pickup location for the shelters. This winter (2025-2026), to date, we have given out 1,093 MARTA Cards.

The Decatur Library has become an unofficial day center some days serving 80-100 unhoused patrons. Unfortunately, this has impacted library services and they have asked us to no longer provide MARTA cards on-site there. As a result, as of February 1, AHFEID made the decision to no longer provide MARTA cards to patrons. We recognize that transportation is a barrier for unhoused patrons and we are looking to develop a partnership with MARTA to facilitate assistance. Unhoused patrons with disabilities are challenged on cold nights trying to navigate vans. During the recent cold weather, AHFEID partnered with Frontline Response on Saturday, January 24 to move 40 unhoused patrons to warming centers.

Frontline Response made seven trips and Gregory White was on the ground from 9:30am-7pm. Thanks to volunteers who provided warm cars as patrons waited on vans since the library was closed due to winter weather.  AHFEID seeks to be a part of the solution to address the barriers that community neighbors face across DeKalb County.

Call To Action

Join us on Monday, February 23 for Moral Monday at the Capitol (Housing and Voucher Cuts) from 11am-12pm. Several of our lived experience neighbors will be speaking with legislatures. 

Find out more by emailing gregwhite@ahomeforeveryoneindekalb.org