by partnersfh | Jan 11, 2021 | Housing Surge
An effort to find homes for those without was not deterred by the obstacles brought by a pandemic. As 11Alive previously reported, the City of Atlanta, working with the non-profit agency Partners for Home and members of the private sector, set out on an ambitious program to house more than 800 of Atlanta’s homeless in a way that could change their lives by year-end.
Annie Hyrila started with Partners for HOME in 2021 as the Senior Project Manager, COVID. In this role, she works with the Atlanta Continuum of Care to implement housing solutions and reduce barriers to permanent housing. Before joining Partners for HOME, Annie worked in with a permanent supportive housing nonprofit in southeast Michigan. Her role focused on building a rapid re-housing program based on best practices, as well as housing interventions for frequent utilizers of emergency systems. Prior to her work in affordable housing, Annie served as a clinician within the Michigan prison system.
Annie has a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan. She remains committed to working with women impacted by the criminal justice system and is passionate about building equitable systems for individuals who are marginalized. In her free time, Annie enjoys gardening, cooking, and listening to music. She is looking forward to exploring Atlanta and getting to know the city.
Jamie Kimbrough joined Partners for HOME in 2020 and serves as the Senior Project Manager, Coordinated Entry. She focuses specifically on navigating systems and accessing resources for providers and their clients. Jamie Kimbrough has worked in homeless services for the past 5 years. In Los Angeles, she worked in direct client care with individuals living on Skid Row. After moving to Atlanta, Jamie worked with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities as the Housing Coordinator for the Atlanta Metro area.
She received her master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University in Los Angeles. In her free time, she enjoys taking her dog for walks. Some of their favorite trails are by the Chattahoochee River.
Melissa Austin joined Partners for HOME in 2019. As Chief Operating officer, Melissa is responsible for leading and managing a comprehensive array of Continuum of Care services and programs as well as the day to day operations. Melissa has spent 25 years working in the non-profit sector with a specific focus in collaboration between the non-profit sector and local government in both urban and rural communities. Her experience includes direct service delivery for the severe and persistently mentally ill and those experiencing homelessness, program development, operations, grant monitoring, provider network development, program performance, and data systems. She has worked on state level initiatives to partner with health systems and communities so that vulnerable individuals have access to housing, behavioral health services, and primary health care. She has a passion for engaging community partners to collaboratively make system wide changes. This leads to developing innovative strategies with feedback from all stakeholders and implementing best practices so that all individuals have access to services. She believes and values input from those with lived experience in making system wide changes.
Melissa has a master’s degree in Clinical Behavioral Psychology and has been a licensed clinician since 1995. In her spare time, Melissa enjoys most outdoor activities: golf, tennis, swimming, lake time, running, yard work, and dog training with frisbees. Her favorite colors are maize and blue because she loves college sports-Go Blue!
Cathryn Marchman joined Partners for HOME in 2015. Her current work as Chief Executive Officer focuses on creating and executing the overall strategic plan to make homelessness in Atlanta rare, brief, and nonrecurring. Cathryn has dedicated her career to working with individuals experiencing homelessness and individuals living in marginalized communities for over 20 years. As a licensed clinical social worker, Cathryn has provided direct clinical care and advocacy to disenfranchised individuals in jails and prisons, residential, medical, and outreach settings. Prior to her current role, she served concurrently as the legal, policy and compliance officer for St. Joseph’s Health System, and the behavioral health coordinator for Mercy Care, Inc., Atlanta’s healthcare for the homeless organization. There, she was instrumental in the development and management of a holistically integrated medical and behavioral health care program across 10 clinic sites. Prior to these roles, she served as the program director for City of Refuge, a shelter for women and children experiencing homelessness.
Cathryn has a juris doctor from Georgia State University School of Law, a and a master’s in Social Work from Hunter College School of Social Work. She was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 2012. When she is not strategizing on making homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring in Atlanta, Cathryn is exploring her neighborhood, Peoplestown, while trying to keep up with her 11-year-old son.
Brianna Flowers joined Partners for HOME in the position of Special Projects Fellowship in 2020. Her main role included leading and monitoring the on boarding process for new projects with a focus on on boarding providers. In 2021, she was promoted to Project Manager, Performance and will support Partners for Home’s data quality and compliance efforts.
Brianna received her master’s degree in Social Work from Georgia State University’s Social Work program. Prior to attending Georgia State, she attended Georgia Southern University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Development. Over the course of her academic career and life, she has developed a strong passion for child and family advocacy, and human rights. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities, including hiking, and exploring the City of Atlanta with all the food options it has to offer. She also volunteers with Fulton County CASA.
Jasmine Rockwell joined Partners for HOME in January 2021 and is the Senior Project Manager of Performance. She collaborates with Atlanta CoC partners to develop and implement a system-wide performance plan for the City of Atlanta. Jasmine has four years of experience working in homelessness. Before coming to Partners for HOME, Jasmine worked as an HMIS Data Analyst in the Office of Homeless and Special Needs Housing at the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). Additionally, she was the System Administrator for the Domestic Violence Comparable Database for the State of Georgia. Jasmine began her career in homelessness at United Way of Greater Atlanta, where she worked as the Data Coordinator for the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program.
Jasmine received a master’s of Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology from Georgia State University (GSU) in 2016 and has returned to GSU to earn a doctorate in Public Health. In her free time, she enjoys doing outdoor activities, including kayaking and biking.
Jasmine Cunningham joined the Partners for HOME team in 2019. Her current role at Partners for HOME as the coordinated entry project manager includes serving as the Atlanta coordinated entry manager and lead project manager for system navigation. Jasmine works closely with housing providers, shelter providers, external stakeholders, and case managers in the Atlanta Continuum of Care to ensure that clients entering the system are connected to services. This work is based in the Atlanta Coordinated Entry system and strives to quickly assess, navigate, and match appropriate interventions for clients. Previously, Jasmine worked with the Veterans Empowerment Organization of Georgia Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program as a case manager. She has worked with programs serving the homeless for the past two years in Atlanta, during which time she has developed a passion and commitment to ending homelessness. Jasmine’s passion for homeless prevention and advocacy for marginalized populations stemmed from her volunteerism with the VA Medical Center in Jackson, MS, her work as a HIV/HCV and intravenous drug use (IDU) harm reduction intern, and her work as a case manager.
Jasmine has a master’s degree in public health from the Georgia State University School of Public Health and a bachelor’s degree from University of Alabama at Birmingham. In her free time, Jasmine enjoys exploring the Atlanta city with friends, traveling to beaches and historical cities, listening to podcasts, and cooking new dishes.
Kerri joined Partners for HOME as the Senior Project Manager, Housing Resources in 2021. In this role, Kerri works closely with the local healthcare providers to train staff and develop a coordinated system that connects individuals experiencing homelessness to the appropriate and most expedient housing solution. She spent over a decade advocating for affordable housing and social justice in government and nonprofit sectors. Her experience includes clinical counseling within the adult and juvenile justice field, program management and equality advocacy. In her previous role, Kerri led a multidisciplinary team as the Housing Operations Manager with the Central Florida CoC.
Kerri holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Social Work from Boise State University and Northwest Nazarene University, respectively. Kerri is a certified Professional Mediator and has worked within many court systems through CASA, Family Dissolution Services and Eviction Court. In her spare time, Kerri enjoys golfing; cruising; boating; attending sporting and live music events; and remodeling her home. Her favorite quote to live by is, “Plant your garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers,” from Jose Luis Borges.
Santanna Terry joined the Partners for HOME team in 2018. She currently serves as the Deputy Director, Accounting and Contracts. In this role, she manages all contracts and ensure that Partners for HOME is compliant with funders. Additionally, she handles all day to day accounting and draws for grants received. This work includes tracking spending, disbursements, and financial compliance for HF funded projects, COVID projects, and any subrecipients to Partners for HOME.
Santanna has over 10 plus years of experience serving at risk communities in the city of Atlanta. Over the years she has had the opportunity to provide case management to families affected by poverty and homelessness, manage a mentoring program for youth whose parents were incarcerated, and teach life skills to teenage parents. Santanna enjoys spending her free time exploring the great outdoors with her two children.
Abby joined Partners for HOME in 2021 as the Executive Assistant. In this role, she serves as the first face in the office and provides support for executive leadership and project management teams. As the first face you’d meet in the office, Abby manages the day-to-day operations of Partners for HOME and ensures it is a welcoming environment. Abby is passionate about using her talents to serve in the nonprofit arena and brings a professional background in marketing, e-commerce and operations management to the team.
Abby is an Atlanta native and graduate of Young Harris College with a bachelor’s degree in English and minor in Business and Public Policy. When not at work, she enjoys cooking for friends and family, reading, traveling and trying out the latest breweries in Atlanta.
As Chief Financial Officer, Linda Pitts oversees the development and implementation of Partners for HOME’s financial management strategy, controls, and infrastructure. She supervises the overall organizational operation including financial planning, human resources, policy standardization, and information technology as well as monitoring the accounting staff. Prior to joining Partners for HOME, she served as the CFO for Pitts Fowler Enterprises providing accounting and financial services to several nonprofit organizations. For over 16 years Linda has shared her expertise in creating opportunities for nonprofit organizations to become financially healthy. Linda’s passion is to catapult the programmatic missions of organizations by ensuring that they operate within financially sound environments. By doing this, people’s lives are changed.
Linda graduated cum laude from Morris Brown College with a bachelor’s degree in Business. Linda lives in Kennesaw with her husband Marcellus. When she is not working, she spends time participating in ministry activities at her church.
Summer joined Partners for HOME in 2021 as the vice president of development and communications. In her role, Summer is responsible for overseeing fundraising efforts of Partners for HOME and working with staff and board members to communicate the work of Partners for HOME to external audiences. Prior to joining Partners for HOME, Summer worked as the development director for Our House, a nonprofit serving children and families impacted by homelessness. With a foundation rooted in marketing, Summer’s experience spans several industries including hospitality, education and retail as the co-owner of a boutique home goods business in New Orleans, LA.
She graduated from the University of Georgia with a master’s degree in Occupational Studies and bachelor’s degree in Marketing. When not working, Summer volunteers her time with local community organizations including serving as a Vice President of the Ivy & Roses Community and The Junior League of Atlanta.
The Atlanta Continuum-of-Care is a collective network of providers aligning coordinated efforts and resources to maximize impact.
Another Chance of Atlanta
Services: transitional housing, permanent supportive housing for Veterans, peer-driven services.
Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency, Inc.
Atlanta Development Authority dba Invest Atlanta
CAPN (Community Advanced Practice Nurses)
CaringWorks, Inc.
Donation needs: bedding and towels (new), household items, kitchen items, dishware, cleaning supplies, paper products.
Central Outreach and Advocacy Center
Coalition for Homeless People With A Mental Illness/Addiction
Crossroads Community Ministries, Inc.
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
Epic Conclusion, Inc.
First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta
Services: food pantry, rental assistance, Sunday morning prayer breakfast, women’s transitional housing
Gateway Center
Donation needs: books/magazines, hygiene supplies, linens, money.
Georgia Law Center for the Homeless
Contact info?
Services offered: eviction defense, family law, SSI/SSDI disability, Rapid-Rehousing chronically homeless families.
Georgia Rehabilitation Outreach, Inc.
HOPE Atlanta/Travelers Aid
Donations needed: money (to aid stranded travelers)
Intown Collaborative Ministries
Services: food, outreach, permanent supportive housing, rapid-rehousing
Donations needed: food, volunteers, clothes.
Metro Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless
Project Community Connections, Inc.
Donations needed: emergency household kits, hygiene kits
Project Interconnections, Inc.
Quest Community Development Organization
Rebecca’s Tent (Formerly Known as Shearith Israel Shelter)
Services: women’s night shelter, room and board, case management, resettlement assistance.
REDEEM Community Outreach Inc.
Services: Re-entry, transition, housing, referrals, employment/job training, outreach, notary
Donation needs: food, clothes
Rosaleana’s Community Development Center, Inc.
SafeHouse Outreach
Services: youth mentoring, parenting education, career development, work readiness skills
Donation needs: hygiene kits, food, paper products, mailing supplies
Serendipity Recovery
St. Jude’s Recovery Center, Inc.
The Center for Children with Incarcerated Parents of Atlanta, Inc.
Trinity Community Ministries, Inc.
Services: case management, counseling, employment, life skills
Urban Residential Development Corporation
Veterans Empowerment Organization of Georgia
Services: transitional housing, individual permanent housing, family permanent housing, job training & placement
Open Doors recruits companies with professionally managed properties willing to rent to veterans, families, and individuals in need of housing. As a Property Partner, you’ll be working with professional housing case managers employed by the best non-profit agencies in Metro Atlanta and will be connected only to households who have financial assistance and ongoing support, enabling them to be stable tenants.
By becoming a member of the Open Doors collaborative, Property Partners receive referrals of tenants who’ve been matched with a range of subsidies and services which equip them to be successful residents in your properties. (i.e. funding through HUD, housing authorities, non-profits, and the State of Georgia.)
There are absolutely no fees associated with joining the Open Door program. Over 95% of our funding is provided by private contributions.
Benefits to your property can include:
• Increased Occupancy Rates: We quickly connect property managers to people in need of affordable housing. When a unit becomes vacant, we can find a match.
• Timely Rent Payment: Regular assessment check-ins with tenants make sure they are successfully meeting the terms and rules of their lease.
• Reduce Apartment Turnover: Housing case managers help tenants manage a household budget as well as provide financial management education to help them remain stable, paying tenants.
• Tenant Issue Resolution Support: Property managers are encouraged to contact housing case managers to resolve tenant issues impacting their lease.
• Support Fair Housing: Properties participating in Open Doors are affirmatively furthering fair housing by eliminating barriers and returning homeless families and individuals to housing.
• Reduce Evictions: Program participants receive housing services, appropriate to their situation, to make them stable tenants and prevent problems that can lead to eviction.
Learn more about the Open Doors program at opendoorsatl.org.
If you are interested in becoming a property management partner, please call or email Matt Hurd at info@opendoorsatl.org or (470) 222-3213