Gateway Center Co-Founder Discusses Efforts To Help Unsheltered Population Amid Pandemic

One of Atlanta’s longstanding leaders seeking to create solutions for people experiencing homelessness says the Atlanta community is working together to respond during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Edward “Jack” Hardin, co-founder of the Gateway Center and the co-chair of the Regional Commission on Homelessness, says that when the health crisis started in March, the number of people seeking shelter tripled because of the closure of churches, and homeless shelters had to stop taking new clients to stop the communal spread of COVID-19.

On Wednesday’s edition of “Closer Look,” Hardin talked with show host Rose Scott about establishing emergency housing at hotels, COVID-19 testing among the homeless population and the SOAR initiative.