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OFFICE OF FULTON COUNTY COMMISSIONER BRIDGET THORNE DISTRICT 1

Fulton County cares. Not in headlines or hashtags, but through steady, thoughtful work that strengthens communities, supports our most vulnerable neighbors, and respects the taxpayers who make that work possible. For residents of North Fulton, this approach not only benefits our community directly, it also reflects a broader commitment across Fulton County of results, not rhetoric.

Every budget season, we spend countless hours reviewing programs, meeting with department leaders, and asking hard questions about what is working and what needs to improve. What I see is a county that takes its responsibility seriously by investing in people, prioritizing proven solutions, and maintaining a strong commitment to fiscal responsibility.

To me, caring is not defined by how much government spends; it’s defined by whether our investments solve problems. It means coordinating services, partnering with trusted nonprofit organizations, measuring outcomes, and adjusting course when necessary. It means protecting families who are struggling while also protecting homeowners and small businesses from unnecessary tax burdens.

That philosophy shapes how Fulton County approaches housing stability, public health, nonprofit support, and essential

services — county-wide services that North Fulton residents benefit from alongside their neighbors in South Fulton, Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta, and beyond.

Delivering Results Through Local Partnerships

Partnership with nonprofits is a cornerstone of how Fulton County delivers results, proving that it really isn’t all about the amount of money invested, but the intentionality and impact of that investment.

In 2025, Fulton County’s Community Services Program (CSP) awarded $5.3 million in contracts to 160 nonprofit partners across six service categories, including children and youth services, economic stability and poverty, health and wellness, homelessness, disabilities, and senior services.

Among these trusted partners, many serving North Fulton and county-wide, are:

• North Fulton Community Charities: (essential services and basic needs support)

• The Drake House: (family homelessness support)

• Community Action Center (CAC): (education and economic stability)



• Chattahoochee Nature Center: (environmental education and enrichment, including summer camp experiences for hundreds of children) — through Fulton County support, hundreds of children benefit from summer programming and nature education opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.

These partnerships reflect a practical, results-driven approach: working with trusted local organizations to deliver targeted services, maximize impact, and strengthen community support networks without duplicating efforts or creating unnecessary bureaucracy.

Housing Stability

Fulton County works closely with Partners for Home through a coordinated, regional system that focuses on what is often described as a three-legged stool: housing, services, and stability.

While many housing dollars come from federal and state sources, Fulton County’s primary role is providing the wraparound services that make housing successful. That means funding mental health care, substance use treatment, case management, employment support, and ongoing stabilization services so individuals and families can remain housed long term. A roof alone is not enough. Housing only works when it is paired with the support people need to stay on their feet.

In the current fiscal year, the county is investing millions in housing and homelessness services. Through this coordinated system, 1,345 households receive homelessness prevention or housing assistance annually, and 46 percent of individuals placed into permanent supportive housing remain stably housed one year later. That is not accidental, it’s the result of evidence-based strategies focused on long-term stability.

County efforts also include funding for permanent supportive housing services and a recent restoration of $2.1 million in the final FY2026 budget to support wraparound services tied to supportive housing units. 

Public and Behavioral Health

Fulton County’s holistic view of public health includes county-wide investments in community health centers, maternal and infant health, HIV/AIDS services, disease prevention, primary care, and robust behavioral health funding.

In FY2026, the county is investing over $157 million toward Health and Human Services as a strategic priority - funding that supports prevention, wellness, education, and connections to care for residents across all Fulton communities.

Behavioral health is a signature success. Programs delivered through a trusted provider network served thousands of children and adults in 2025 with free, high-quality care, helping reduce strain on emergency systems and improve long-term outcomes.

In the FY2026 budget alone, Fulton County is investing $24.5 million in behavioral health, including $4.8 million specifically for wraparound mental health services that support permanent supportive housing. That single behavioral health investment is six times greater than what Gwinnett, Cobb, and DeKalb counties spend combined.

These investments reduce strain on emergency systems, improve health outcomes, and save taxpayer dollars in the long run.

Caring Also Means Rethinking How We Approach Public Safety

Fulton County is working toward a modernized jail facility that will include a dedicated mental health treatment component with approximately 1,300 beds, reflecting recognition that many individuals in the justice system need treatment, not just incarceration.

Fulton County’s Pre-Arrest Diversion (PAD) program embodies compassionate, fiscally responsible public safety reform. Since 2017, approximately 6,000 individuals have received provided services instead of cycling through the traditional justice system, connecting people to treatment and community support rather than incarceration.

PAD not only changes lives, it also saves taxpayer dollars by reducing costs associated with jail, court, and emergency responses.

New Health & Human Services Campus

North Fulton residents have long had to travel across the county to access a patchwork of services. That changes this spring.

The new Health & Human Services campus at 4700 North Point Parkway, opening in my district, will consolidate many essential services in one convenient location.

The new Health & Human Services campus will offer all of the services currently provided at the 10 Park Place Health Center on Royal Drive, including primary medical care for adults and children; preventive care and wellness screenings; immunizations; women’s health and family planning services; STI, HIV, and tuberculosis testing and treatment; chronic disease management; and community health education and outreach. In addition, the North Fulton campus will introduce two important service expansions: Vital Records services, allowing residents to access birth and death certificates locally, and expanded Senior Services, including an Adult Day program and multi-service supports designed to help older adults remain active, connected, and independent.

On the same property, a Behavioral Health Crisis Center is planned to further expand access to urgent mental health and stabilization services, a critical addition that underscores Fulton County’s focus on both prevention and crisis response. 

Serving Seniors, Veterans, and Vulnerable Neighbors

Fulton County serves tens of thousands of older adults each year through senior centers, home-delivered meals, transportation assistance, caregiver support, and in-home services that allow residents to age safely and with dignity.

In FY2026, the county has also dedicated $250,000 specifically to veterans housing, along with funding for employment support, benefits navigation, and mental health care. 

Caring Is Measured in Impact

Caring isn’t performative. It isn’t measured by how loudly we talk about problems. It is measured by whether we take the time to understand them and build solutions that last.

Fulton County’s work may not always be flashy, but it makes a real difference every day. I am proud of the progress we are making, honest about the challenges that remain, and committed to continuing the responsible, people-centered work of building a county where everyone, including the residents of North Fulton, has the opportunity to thrive

Our office is here to support you—feel free to contact us with questions and concerns anytime.