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As we all know, February is Black History Month. It is a time of year dedicated to honoring and paying tribute to all contributions, innovations, and legacies established by Black people in this country. In and of themselves, these contributions should be honored and celebrated based on the merit of how phenomenal, creative, and ground-breaking they have been. However, because of our collective acknowledgment of all that these individuals have accomplished while facing adversity rooted in systemic and structural racism, these achievements are held in higher regard.
Historically, the same systemic and structural racism has contributed to and influenced the current trend of the homeless population in Metro Atlanta, which consists primarily of Black people (90%). With this in mind, I would like to celebrate the trailblazers who live amongst us - those individuals who formerly experienced homelessness. They should be celebrated for overcoming barriers and challenges they did not create but encountered. Our formerly homeless brothers and sisters have strength, resiliency, and a level of dedication and perseverance that we can all learn from.
In addition, I would like to celebrate our allies who have provided the support necessary for our formerly homeless brothers and sisters to transition to stable housing. Because the philanthropic community has continued to make investments in Gateway Center, we have the capacity to provide the transformational services that open doors to stable housing opportunities. Our allies in the housing community have accepted subsidies to make their housing units affordable. Our employers in community have hired our brothers and sisters with limited work history and/or criminal history because they believe in the dignity and value of all individuals. Although I have only named a few, our list of allies in our fight against homelessness is extensive.
As we celebrate Black History Month, let’s remember that Black History is being made daily and should be recognized throughout the year. We all have the opportunity to befriend and provide relief for someone experiencing homelessness. By embracing a mindset of Everybody Vs. Homelessness, we will celebrate the accomplishments of those who have fought through adversity to become stably housed. By replicating these successful outcomes, we can eventually make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring.
Best,
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