NEWS

On July 1, Georgia law will officially recognize the Chatham-Savannah Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH)—the first of its kind in the state—marking a significant milestone for our region and the collaborative partners working to address homelessness.

The Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, along with key community partners, began the work of re-establishing our local Continuum of Care (CoC) in 2019, a requirement under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Over the next several years, this effort re-engaged community stakeholders and rebuilt a coordinated system of care. Under the leadership of City Manager Jay Melder, the CoC took a bold next step: forming the ICH to lead a system-wide, data-driven response to homelessness in Savannah.

With the enactment of this legislation, that coordinated approach is now codified in Georgia law and empowered to operate countywide. While the legal framework begins July 1, the ICH has already hit the ground running—publishing a five-year strategic plan and beginning its implementation across the region.

This milestone reflects the commitment of dozens of organizations and individuals who have worked tirelessly to build a stronger, more responsive, and more humane system to prevent and reduce homelessness in our community and ensure public safety for all. The Chamber is proud to be part of this historic achievement.