LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — As Gwinnett County’s population continues to grow, county leaders are taking a closer look at one of its most pressing challenges: homelessness and housing instability.
The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners voted June 2 to establish a 10-member Homelessness Task Force that will study the issue, identify gaps in services and recommend both short- and long-term strategies to better support residents experiencing homelessness.
The advisory group will meet monthly to review data, gather public input, examine successful programs in other communities and explore ways to improve coordination among government agencies, nonprofit organizations, businesses and service providers.
Among those appointed to the task force is Tami Wilder, executive director of Positive Impact International and lead agency representative for Safe Place in Gwinnett County. Wilder said homelessness is more widespread than many residents realize because much of it remains hidden from public view.
“We have a lot of kids that are sleeping on benches,” Wilder said. “They come out when it’s dark.”
According to Gwinnett County’s most recent point-in-time count, at least 375 people were experiencing homelessness last year. Wilder believes the need has continued to grow as the county’s population has surpassed one million residents.
She said homelessness affects people from all walks of life, including seniors struggling with rising housing costs and young adults with developmental disabilities who often lack adequate support services.
“Some of our neurodivergent youth, people that have autism, developmental delays, we don’t have enough resources for them,” Wilder said.
A focus on youth and long-term stability
Positive Impact International provides more than emergency assistance for teens and young adults facing homelessness, abuse, neglect and family conflict.
Youth are placed in homes with trained house parents who provide stability and a family-like environment while participants receive counseling, mentoring, financial literacy training, academic support, career guidance and connections to community resources.
Founded by mother-and-daughter team Linda and Tami Wilder, the nonprofit originally focused on arts education and enrichment opportunities before expanding its mission to meet the growing needs of vulnerable youth. Today, the organization serves as Gwinnett County’s lead Safe Place agency.
Collaboration at the center of the effort
Gwinnett County Board Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson said addressing homelessness will require partnerships across the community.
“Homelessness requires both compassion and coordination, and this task force will bring together the people and the organizations already doing this work,” Hendrickson said.
The task force will evaluate homelessness and housing data, identify available public and private resources, assess service gaps and recommend strategies to improve coordination among agencies and organizations.
Members will also examine homelessness in commercial corridors and public spaces while considering approaches that balance community concerns with support for individuals experiencing homelessness.
The task force will serve strictly in an advisory role and will not have the authority to implement policy or allocate funding. Once its work is complete, members will submit recommendations to the Board of Commissioners for consideration.
Meetings will be open to the public and conducted in accordance with Georgia’s Open Meetings Act.
For Wilder, the new task force represents a meaningful opportunity for frontline organizations to help shape future solutions.
“This is the first time that I’ve actually felt like, OK, people are listening,” she said.
She said thousands of young people across metro Atlanta continue to face housing instability and uncertain futures, but believes stronger collaboration can help change those outcomes.
“At Positive Impact International, we believe every young person deserves more than survival,” Wilder said. “They deserve the opportunity to heal, grow and thrive.”
County officials are expected to announce the remaining task force members and schedule the group’s first public meeting in the coming weeks.
