A look inside PAD, Atlanta's alternative approach to public safety

A rectangular sign for Atlanta's Policing Alternatives and Diversion Initiative (PAD Atlanta) stands outside the building the organization uses for Care Navigation.

This story has been updated with a corrected quote.

In September 2024, Moki Macias, Executive Director of Atlanta’s Policing Alternatives and Diversion Initiative (PAD) warned that the non-profit faced a $250,000 funding gap. The Atlanta City Council had failed to vote on renewing PAD’s contract with the city. PAD faced the potential for lay-offs and a need to reduce its programs and services that benefit Atlanta’s most vulnerable residents.

After a months-long battle with the mayor’s office, the city passed a two-year, $5 million contract.

PAD is a community safety organization that provides an alternative approach to policing and incarceration by directly addressing quality-of-life concerns, including extreme poverty, substance use, or mental health complications.

Law enforcement has historically responded to these quality-of-life issues with force, according to a report by the Homeless Policy Research Institute. PAD’s Care Navigation approach seeks to meet basic needs and break the initial behavior cycle that leads to police contact.

Community Response team members Erica(left), and Bam(middle) engage in business outreach, where team members visit local establishments to bring awareness to the services they provide for the community. — Community Response team members Erica (left), and Bam (middle) visit local establishments to talk about the services PAD provides for the community.

Community Response Team member Christian visits a local liquor store to spread awareness about PAD's services. — Community Response team members Erica (left), and Bam (middle) visit local establishments to talk about the services PAD provides for the community.

Moki Macias, PAD’s Executive Director, said PAD exists “because of local and national mobilizing for the Movement for Black Lives” that draws attention to police brutality and highlights alternative approaches to community safety.

PAD employs a Community Response team that directly engages in situations where a person is experiencing a non-emergency quality-of-life crisis, including public indecency, disturbances or a person experiencing unmet basic needs.

PAD Community Response Team members Erica(left) and Lola(right) prepare a vehicle with necessary supplies such as snack bags, clothing, and care products.

“One of the core things we look to do is to provide an alternative to 911 through 311,” said Ash DeSilva, PAD’s Community Response Supervisor. ”We are challenging the perception that homelessness and quality-of-life concerns are criminal. I am not saying that committing a crime is acceptable. I’m saying that the fact that these are crimes is unacceptable. Imagine not being welcome into a business or trespassed from a public restroom, only to be cited or arrested for using the bathroom outside?”

After receiving a 311 call, an ATL311 Support Service agent confirms that PAD is qualified to respond before passing the call to a PAD Referral Coordinator, who sends the Community Response team to the scene.

PAD Atlanta's Community Response team members on site during a live diversion, which often involves team members engaging with local law enforcement to divert the nature of a situation from a possible detention or arrest. — Community Response team members on site during a live diversion, which often involves team members engaging with local law enforcement to divert the nature of a situation from a possible detention or arrest.

PAD’s engagement with individuals during a response is based on dignity and consent. The Community Response team is trained to assist an unhoused person undergoing crisis or experiencing substance abuse and can provide transportation to a shelter, should it be helpful. Where possible, community responders offer the Atlanta Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies alternative solutions to detention.

Care Navigation services, another core part of PAD’s programming, are grounded in harm reduction and housing-first policies. Those services are available to people who become PAD participants after a diversion. Participants are often formerly incarcerated or unhoused people who otherwise do not have access to traditional social services. A Care Navigator partners with participants and helps address their needs. This partnership can include providing clothing and weekly food distributions or navigating the process of obtaining government identification.

Clothing racks inside PAD's Care Navigation Center — PAD’s Care Navigation facility also provides clothing for community members who need it.

The food pantry at PAD's Care Navigation Center — PAD’s Care Navigation facility also provides clothing for community members who need it.

Program participants highlight the effectiveness of PAD’s efforts. Dozens of current and former participants spoke about the importance of the program in public comment sessions during the fight over PAD’s contract last year.

Stroble, a PAD participant and Care Navigation food pantry worker, echoed that sentiment to the Atlanta Community Press Collective.

“A lot of other organizations have it on paper that they do this,” Stroble said, “PAD actually does things for the people.”

PAD operates Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Volunteer for PAD: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Q1Yy99SrbUK-Q16xAJCNDH9zYM3d8IlPhnvVfUsvE99UQ1JLSjlMUThJQzNFTEFMNzlNWjVQMFkyUi4u

PAD is hiring:
Communications Coordinator
Community Responder (Day Shift)
Community Responder (Evening Shift)
Referral Coordinator (Evening Shift)

Donate to PAD: https://www.mightycause.com/donate/Atlantapad

A look inside PAD, Atlanta’s alternative approach to public safety

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A look inside PAD, Atlanta’s alternative approach to public safety

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