Atlanta United Way Nears Fundraising Goal

United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta says it has raised almost all of the $82 million the charitable organization set out to raise through its current fundraising campaign.

So far, the organization says it has $80.5 million toward the goal, which was announced six months ago.

The organization's new theme urges would-be donors to "live united" by showing their concern for less fortunate neighbors through cash and volunteering.

The organization recently has focused on placing homeless in supportive housing and expanding a statewide hot line for the impoverished.

(AP)

Economy hobbles aid to homeless

Beneath the glowing red Coca-Cola headquarters sign, case worker Hylda Jackson bargains with one of Atlanta's homeless.

Jackson wants to know if Harry Byrd would like his own apartment. If he says no, he'll remain among the 750,000 homeless sprinkled across the nation's streets and shelters each night.

In Atlanta and other cities, a sense of urgency has settled over the efforts of advocates such as Jackson.

The recession is catching many of the nation's largest cities in the middle of pioneering 10-year plans to drastically reduce the number of chronically homeless and channeling them into apartments with built-in case workers.

"It's the start of tough times," said Protip Biswas, executive director of United Way Atlanta's Regional Commission on Homelessness.

Biswas is asking his own case workers to nearly double their load.

Atlanta's 5-year-old program is considered one of the most successful - it's created 1,600 units of supportive housing for the chronically homeless. Of 750 people recently tracked through the program, 90 percent remained housed after a year.

In turn, chronic homelessness is down 16 percent in the metro area.

(AP)

Click here for more GPB News coverage about homeless issues statewide.

Fining UGA athletes is getting them to class

The University of Georgia says fining athletes who don’t show up to class is working. Since January, UGA has been charging athletes $10 for each unexcused absence. The student-athletes also face game suspensions. School officials say within weeks, the number of athlete absences dropped 90%. And for the first time this past semester, more than 50% of athletes made a 3.0 or better grade point average. The money is donated to United Way.