New mailboxes aim to give Augusta's homeless much more than an address

Yahoo

28-02-2025

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)- Augusta's Homeless Task Force is taking steps to help those in need around the Garden City.
They've installed mailboxes to help unhoused people get their important documents in order.
This project has been a few years in the making, and it's part of the effort from GAP Ministries to remove barriers that stand in the way of getting people on their feet.
As organizations like GAP Ministries continue to battle homelessness, Executive Director Nomi Stanton says it starts with what unhoused people need.
'One of the very first things people get asked is to put their address down on the application. If you don't have an address, it's almost impossible to move forward and stay unstuck,' said Stanton.
That's why they've installed 50 mailboxes in a cluster at the building on Greene Street.
The mailboxes will be used for case managers working with unhoused people or those in transition.
'Maybe they're staying with friends while they get on their feet. Maybe they've just paid their last month's rent, they need to save money and they're in limbo in some way. Or they're staying in one of the hotels because they lost their home during Helene, which is also something that we've seen. This allows you to still maintain your independence,' Stanton said.
City leaders supporting the effort say it's a critical step to help the homeless get essential resources to thrive.
'If you're trying to get an I.D., a birth certificate, or any critical document, you can't get that without a physical address. There are so many people in our community who need those resources, but don't have an address to receive them. The fact that this resource is getting ready to happen for so many people in our community is overwhelming for me,' said District 1 Commissioner Jordan Johnson.
The task force's new upcoming chairman, Luke Niday, says it's also about getting down to their level to meet their needs.
We have enough food to feed our homeless people, we have enough beds to house our homeless people—they just don't have relationships. We hope this is an opportunity to build relationships with people all throughout our city, and be connected in a lot of different ways,' said Niday.
Agencies including the Salvation Army, Department of Public Health, and Marion Barnes will all have mailboxes available.
Stanton says the effort ties in with the overarching mission to fill the 'gap' between the plenty and need.
'It's a hand-up, this is not a handout. This is something that's legitimate. We want people to be employed. We want this city to come together, and I think one of the goals of the task force is to unify as many agencies as possible—because it's loving on a particular population of folks that are our most vulnerable. So it's truly a huge win for the entire CSRA,' said Stanton.
The Augusta Homeless Task Force will join other agencies to officially unveil the mailboxes soon.
A ceremony is set for March 11th at the GAP Ministries location on Greene Street.
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