ATLANTA — A homeless shelter that was set to have its water shut off because of an unpaid bill received some help Friday morning.
The city of Atlanta ordered the shut-off at the Peachtree Pine shelter earlier this week. They said the shelter had an unpaid bill of nearly $600,000.
Last week, shelter director Anita Beaty tried to give the city a $100,000 certified check, but officials said they would not accept partial payment.
"This is unconscionable. We're the crisis center for the city of Atlanta for homeless people. It's absolutely outrageous for them to do that,” said director Anita Beaty earlier this week.
Friday, thanks to the help of some anonymous donors, the shelter was able to pay the entire bill. It was a bill that had been years in the making, growing since 2008, and now the bill is current.
“We also have an escrow account that’s going to allow us to keep current going forward,” said Beaty.
Beaty says the donors “understand homelessness,” but she would not say who they were, only calling them angels for their protection.
“Anytime a donor appears and is public with us that donor gets attacked,” said Beaty.
A homeless shelter that was set to have its water shut off because of an unpaid bill received some help Friday morning.
The city of Atlanta ordered the shut-off at the Peachtree Pine shelter earlier this week. They said the shelter had an unpaid bill of nearly $600,000.
Last week, shelter director Anita Beaty tried to give the city a $100,000 certified check, but officials said they would not accept partial payment.
"This is unconscionable. We're the crisis center for the city of Atlanta for homeless people. It's absolutely outrageous for them to do that,” said director Anita Beaty earlier this week.
Friday, thanks to the help of some anonymous donors, the shelter was able to pay the entire bill. It was a bill that had been years in the making, growing since 2008, and now the bill is current.
“We also have an escrow account that’s going to allow us to keep current going forward,” said Beaty.
Beaty says the donors “understand homelessness,” but she would not say who they were, only calling them angels for their protection.
“Anytime a donor appears and is public with us that donor gets attacked,” said Beaty.
Upon hearing that shelter would not be shutting down services, one resident shouted, “Thank God! Because now 600 men, women and children have somewhere to be tonight.”
Beaty estimates they’ll help 15,000 people this year.
“Everything will be back on now,” said Beaty.
The building had one inactive account that had a court order payment of $147,000 due and another account with around $433,000 due.
Beaty says the plan is to get the shelter off the Watershed Management Department grid as much as possible, with a rain water catching system by the new year.
“We haven't gotten the final cost for the final implementation of that rain water catching system, but we're working on that now,” she said.
One long time shelter resident said clearing this latest debt is not going to solve the problems Beaty and the shelter will face.
“They're gonna continue to ride (Beaty) and her husband until they are out of this building because it's prime real estate. The powers that be in this town want it and they not gonna rest,” he said.
WSBTV
