Justice for Cornelius Taylor Coalition and unhoused Atlantans propose Housing First policy

Four months after Cornelius Taylor was killed in his tent during a city-led encampment sweep in January, the Justice for Cornelius Taylor Coalition (JCTC) began leading weekly gatherings in the alleyway behind Atlanta’s Old Wheat Street, called the “Backstreet.” Composed of political advocates, social outreach workers, and encampment residents, JCTC is calling for radical housing changes in Atlanta.

JCTC regularly meets with Mayor Andre Dickens and has created a proposal for the permanent housing of Cornelius Taylor’s Backstreet neighbors. Unlike a “Continuum of Care” model that moves residents through stages of support before receiving permanent housing, JCTC works within a “Housing First” framework. This model prioritizes giving people permanent housing, followed by individualized, supportive care known as wraparound services. These services address barriers to housing, including mental and physical health, chemical dependency, trauma, unemployment, and more.

Prior housing efforts leave Backstreet residents stranded

During one of JCTC’s Backstreet meetings, employees of housing nonprofit SafeHouse Outreach entered without warning and were asked to leave. Tim Franzen, JCTC member and organizer with the American Friends Service Committee, said the workers arrived to convince Backstreet residents to move into unstable, temporary housing situations “under the threat that this encampment will be cleared by force.” Safehouse’s website highlights their work with Partners For Home (PFH), a lead organization in the City of Atlanta’s Continuum of Care with a mission to “end homelessness.”

Nolan English, a JCTC member and pastor, was once a Backstreet resident. He denounced Partners for Home as “more than complicit in the death of Cornelius Taylor,” and described people being placed in apartments with no follow-up by case management.

JCTC publicly left the Mayor’s “Homelessness Task Force” in part, JCTC members claimed, due to PFH involvement. According to English, “Partners for Home have no policy and no plan.”

Tajuana Redding describes herself as a “displaced person” and has lived in the Backstreet intermittently since the encampment started in 2020. She obtained housing through Step Up, a PFH partner organization, but has struggled to reclaim her space after it was taken over by temporary tenants. She said every one of her case managers has been let go “because they stealing money.” Redding questioned where the city’s housing resources go. “Why are people still back here?” she asked. “It doesn’t make sense.”

English said the city’s housing “is temporary and it’s highly conditional. We are recycling the same folks through the same system.”

Justice for Cornelius Taylor Coalition collaborating with Backstreet residents

Unlike preexisting housing organizations, JCTC is not affiliated with the city and works in collaboration with Backstreet residents. “We cannot do this for you. We have to do this with you,” said Franzen, addressing residents.

Renfroe Tyson, a Backstreet resident, spoke up during a JCTC meeting. “This is the first time the city of Atlanta is doing something like this,” Renfroe said. “I think we can achieve some things here throughout the meetings if we stay focused, stay unified, and communicate among one another. That’s the key.”

JCTC has submitted a roughly two million dollar housing proposal to the Mayor that would serve 28 Backstreet residents. They anticipated the Mayor’s response by June 13. If approved, Backstreet residents will review their housing options with JCTC to begin their move.