Q&A with Commissioner Michelle Long Spears: Addressing Homelessness in DeKalb County

DeKalb County Commissioner Michelle Long Spears

Commissioner Michelle Long Spears is committed to ensuring that every DeKalb resident has a place to call home.

On Housing Priorities:

“I believe everyone who wants to call DeKalb home should have a bed to rest their head on. In my first year as commissioner, I explored our affordable housing legislation, housing stock, and resources for the unhoused. It’s clear our current system is insufficient. I’m dedicated to pushing for better solutions.”

Community Engagement:

Greg White, AHFEID executive director, organized a site visit for government officials to see for themselves the challenges of living unhoused.

“A volunteer shared that she distributes sandwiches every weekend to those in need. Her dedication deeply moved me and underscored the importance of community involvement.”

Improving County Services:

“Last year, I challenged our departments to identify hotspots for our unhoused population and open warming centers in those areas. Currently, many centers are in the northern part of the county, but the southern areas also need these resources.”

Systemic Challenges:

“Access is our biggest barrier. Our system is somewhat broken. We need to ensure community members understand the procedures to seek assistance. Over the next year, as we develop DeKalb’s first plan to address homelessness, we must address and fix these access issues.”

Continuum of Care (CoC):

“I’m interested in models where the CoC is managed by a nonprofit. In DeKalb, it’s under our community development department, but a separate entity could pursue private investments and philanthropic funding to address homelessness.”

Potential Shelter Development:

“DeKalb County should seriously explore opening its own shelter. Beyond providing immediate relief, it’s about offering stability and connecting individuals with professionals to guide them toward permanent solutions. Housing first is crucial; stabilizing housing can stabilize other life aspects like health and education.”

Housing Initiatives:

“We’re working on two initiatives: a housing plan and an unhoused plan. The housing plan, funded at $250,000, addresses affordable housing issues and was passed last July. The unhoused plan, led by the behavioral health coalition and managed by Clarital Behavioral Health Services, is gearing up for public rollout this summer.”

Summer Programs:

“Cooling centers will open during extreme heat. Currently, they activate at 100°, but I believe that’s too high and needs reevaluation.”

Call to Action:

“I urge community members to advocate for our unhoused population. The numbers are rising, and it’s time for collective action. We need to come together—county, cities, faith-based communities, nonprofits, neighborhood groups, and individuals—to address this issue and hold leaders, including myself, accountable.”

Learning from Other Models:

“We’re organizing a DeKalb delegation to visit Haven for Hope in San Antonio and Houston. This trip aims to learn from their approaches to homelessness and bring back insights to implement in our county.”

Respect for AHFEID's Executive Director Greg White:

"He walks the walk and talks the talk. Greg is an individual that really cares and wants to help the vulnerable population. He leads with love and believes in treating people with compassion. I have so much respect for him."