Water back on at homeless shelter

The water’s back on at the Metro Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless, but its dispute with the city is far from over.

A Fulton County Superior Court judge ordered water service restored to the Peachtree Street shelter Tuesday afternoon, a day after the city shut it off for an unpaid bill totaling roughly $15,000. The task force also was granted a hearing regarding its allegations that the city interferes with its fund-raising.

Brant Sanderlin / bsanderlin@ajc.com

Anthony Evans of Morrow, GA protest outside the Task for the Homeless Peachtree and Pine shelter Tuesday. Evans said the Task Force helped him get back on his feet back in 1987.

Brant Sanderlin / bsanderlin@ajc.com

Protestor Sharon Crow says, “It’s a disgrace the city spends millions of dollars on statues and fountains but can’t take care of the homeless people.” Crow doesn’t stay in the shelter, but has received help from the Task Force in the past.

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Judge Ural Glanville ordered the debt paid by June 30 and set up a new payment plan for the nonprofit, which, with its next bill factored in, owes the city $22,984.62. In addition to its current balance, the task force owes the city $147,482.39 for a separate meter at the building that was turned off last winter.

“The judge has ruled and we’re abiding by the judge’s ruling.” said Janet Ward, spokeswoman for the Atlanta Department of Watershed. The next hearing will be scheduled within 30 days, said Fulton Superior Court spokesman Don Plummer — assuming the shelter complies with the installment agreement.

Task force executive director Anita Beaty welcomed the opportunity.

“They [city representatives] interfere with our donors, telling them not to give to use because we’re going under,” she said.

The shelter remained open last night and used bottled water donated by community members to flush toilets, she said.

About 50 neighborhood activists and shelter residents gathered at Atlanta City Hall during the hearing in support of the task force.

“This is a massive human rights violation,” said Rachael Spiewak, manager of the Sopo Bicycle Cooperative, where many shelter residents volunteer. “Everyone deserves drinking water.”

—Staff writer Larry Hartstein contributed to this report.