360 Connecticut Avenue, N.E. • Atlanta • 404-373-3253
The Night Hospitality Shelter cares for elderly, sick, and disabled men and
ministers up to 30 men at a time. Founded 22 years ago by the Clifton Presbyterian Church, this
shelter was the first free shelter in Atlanta for the homeless.
The church's dedication to these homeless men’s needs is deeply sincere. The ministry began
with Joe Coppage, who grew up in the Lake Claire neighborhood near Clifton Presbyterian Church.
While still a young man, he slipped into unmanageable mental illness and became homeless. Joe’s
plight inspired the members of Clifton Presbyterian Church to begin the Night Hospitality ministry
and care for “the least of these,” as Christ commanded. They began to share their sanctuary with
homeless men in 1979 and have been doing it every night, 365 days a year, since then.
The shelter is located in the church sanctuary, a wood frame structure enlarged from a
one-time farmhouse. For Sunday morning worship, floor mattresses are replaced with folding chairs.
This act is as pure a witness to Christ’s mission as one can find.
Clifton Presbyterian Church is 75 years old and currently has a membership of 40 people.
The church not only provides a warm dry place to sleep, but also serves breakfast, dinner, and for
a few of the group, lunch.
The staff is compassionate and experienced. Fellowship and a sense of belonging contribute
to the excellent morale one senses here. Thirty churches and over 150 volunteers participate in this ministry.
In any given month, a few men are actively employed, more are seeking employment, and
others are in job training. All are disabled, sick, or elderly. Many who meet one of these three
criteria also have a substance abuse or mental illness history. Their background is usually more
complex than even that. A full time social worker/chaplain is on the staff, and the Clifton
Presbyterian Church has a full time minister.
Where did 399 guests in the shelter during the year 2000 go after leaving the
shelter? Seventy-two obtained housing. Seventy went to residential treatment programs. Seventeen
were hospitalized. Sixteen remained as guests. Eight went to Joe’s Place (See next paragraph).
Twenty-two were disqualified. Time expired on 18, and 13 ended in jail.
For disabled or ill guests unable to move to permanent housing, Night Hospitality acquired a
near-by house, which it renovated and established as a transitional facility. Joe’s Place, as it is
called can accommodate 12 guests. Bedrooms, baths, and sitting room are clean and simply, but
tastefully furnished and are well cared for by those living there. The environment engenders self
worth and dignity. Joe’s Place is the first of what is hoped will be several such transitional homes
for guests who need more time to find permanent housing.
To live in this transitional home, guests must have lived at the Night Hospitality Shelter
for at least a month. They have to have a job, agree to pay 30 percent of their income as rent, be
recommended by the pastoral counselor, pass a criminal background check, agree to save a percentage
of their earnings, buy and cook their own food, and live as independently as possible.
The program's annual budget is $177,000, of which DPC contributes $2,000. Thirty Atlanta
church congregations and 150 people donate many volunteer hours and most meals.
Volunteers meet Night Hospitality’s needs fairly well. However, there is a need for workshop
leaders, especially at Joe’s Place, and for volunteers to assist with health and fitness (especially
men’s health issues), budgeting and financial management, food and nutrition, and independent living
skills. Also, there is a need to teach basic household cleaning and management, including the teaching
of simple household repairs to new residents as they move into Joe’s Place.
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