Before this week, residents struggling with homelessness in Gwinnett County have been largely on their own when it came to finding shelter.
While organizations like United Way or the Gwinnett Coalition for Health and Human Services have lists of agencies that could help find temporary or permanent housing, it’s been up to the person in need of a place to sleep to reach out to each agency individually.
No more.
On Monday, the Norcross Assessment Center, a one-stop service provider that will do the legwork for residents, opened its doors.
“This has been a long time coming,” said Matthew Elder, the director of HomeFirst Gwinnett. “We’re elated to be able to have it open.”
Credit: Jenni Girtman
Credit: Jenni Girtman
In the first two days, members of 35 households walked in, called or contacted the assessment center through its website. They came for help preventing evictions or because they had immediate needs for shelter.
Elder estimated there are between 8,000 and 10,000 people in the county who are homeless or whose housing is precarious, such as those who live in extended stay hotels. While he hopes to have a planned 20-bed homeless shelter open this fall — likely with fewer beds, to respect the need for social distancing — the center is an important first step in making it easier to find shelter.
Residents who ask for help are assessed on a vulnerability index to determine what kind of intervention they need, before staffers work to find secure housing. Elder likened the service to calling 911 for a wound instead of going to YouTube to learn how to apply a tourniquet on yourself.
“What rapid rehousing or permanent supportive housing means isn’t the responsibility” of the person who needs help, he said. “I think it’s a game-changing, monumental moment for our community.”
With additional support, Elder said, he hopes residents can get out of a survival mindset. In addition to the homeless services, the assessment center has health care partners, including those that can help with substance abuse or mental health issues.
He expects to serve 1,000 people a year at the center, including as many as 750 by the end of 2020 as lost jobs and wages from the coronavirus pandemic continue to contribute to the homelessness crisis.
“We’re focused on trying to keep people and get people sheltered as quickly as possible, as long as possible,” Elder said. “This is just a starting point. This is Step One. It’s significant, but it’s a single step forward.”
The Norcross Assessment Center is located at 5320 Jimmy Carter Blvd. For help with shelter, see tinyurl.com/GwinnettCaresIntake. For help with eviction prevention, see tinyurl.com/GwinnettEviction. Or call the assessment center at 770-847-6765.
