Quick Poll

With the recent passing of music icons Donna Summer and Robin Gibb – each had major success in the 1970s and 1980s – which music decade is your favorite?

Recent Polls

Blogs

Angela McRae

Tea with friends

Deberah Williams

Everyday Finesse

Lorrie Lynch

Who's News

Published Sunday, March 15, 2009 in Local

United Way cuts staff in Coweta

By Winston Skinner

The Newnan Times-Herald

Tina Darby, associate director for community impact with United Way in Coweta and Fayette counties, has been busy this year organizing a task force to help homeless people and dealing with other issues relating to the sour economy and unemployment.

On Tuesday, Darby joined the ranks of the unemployed as she and the office manager at the local United Way office were laid off. Darby, speaking Thursday to members of the Newnan Civitan Club about her work with the Task Force for Coweta's Homeless, referred to herself as "a temporary casualty of the economy."

Coweta County is one of 13 counties served by United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta. The other counties are Butts, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding and Rockdale.

Coweta and Fayette counties have been serviced from an office in the Rutledge Building at 61 Hospital Road in Newnan. Carolyn Proffitt, area director for Coweta and Fayette, remains as the staff person for the two counties.

Malika White, media relations manager for Atlanta United Way, said 12 positions were eliminated including two part-time employees in Coweta and Fayette counties.

"The positions eliminated are a result of two factors: the necessity to reduce United Way's operating budget given the current economic conditions, and the restructuring to help support the organization's new five-year strategic plan," White said. "The five-year strategic plan will help the organization continue its mission of creating lasting change in the community."

White said Atlanta United Way has also put a hiring freeze in place "on all open positions." She said the organization continues "to explore cost-saving opportunities."

While Proffitt is the only United Way employee who will have an office in either Coweta or Fayette, White said Proffitt "is supported by the metro Atlanta office" which will "continue to support Carolyn to ensure that the work in Coweta and Fayette counties continues."

White did not rule out the possibility of further staff cuts. "We will continue to remain a steadfast steward of community resources. While we do not foresee any additional layoffs, we will respond appropriately to economic changes," she said.

"United Way greatly appreciates the good work and contributions each one of the 12 employees made," she said.

At least for the present, Darby is continuing her work with the homeless task force -- which has brought together representatives of a variety of agencies and organizations including Piedmont Newnan Hospital, Community Welcome House, Samaritan's House, One Roof Ecumenical Outreach, the Alliance for Children's Enrichment, the Salvation Army and the Coweta County Department of Family and Children Services.

"You know you have a homeless problem when the bus pulls up to the Stay Lodge to pick up the children for school," Darby said. As the homeless problem grew last fall, Darby said she found her concepts of homeless people challenged.

The caricature of the hobo carrying his wordly belongings everywhere he goes does not begin to encapsulate the reality. The homeless in Coweta County include people who are elderly, families, single mothers and single people who are without work.

Darby recalled the well dressed, well spoken woman who came to her office and said, "I have nowhere to go."

"She was living with some friends of friends, and they wanted her out of the bedroom," Darby said.

Darby eventually got information about shelters in Griffin, Douglasville and Atlanta -- where many of the shelters are for men only. Since that time, the opening of BelAir Family Center in Coweta has created a local option for families.

Late last week, BelAir had 34 residents in its 18 rooms. One Roof handles intake for BelAir which does not accept people with criminal records or people on the state's sex offender registry.

"We have something," Darby said gratefully. "But it's not big enough. We have a waiting list for people to get in."

Darby said grant applications are in process that could provide some funding to organizations that serve the homeless in Coweta County.

In her role at United Way, Darby also oversaw the application and review process for Federal Emergency Management Agency funds. Lots of paperwork is required for a county to get the FEMA funds, and Coweta's funds had gone unclaimed for six years. Last year, $18,000 came to Coweta. This year, because of rising unemployment and poor economic indicators, $75,000 has been allocated.

BelAir, Community Welcome House, One Roof, the Salvation Army and ACE will all get part of that money to help homeless people and help prevent homelessness.

Comment On This Story

Times-Herald.com does not necessarily agree with the comments posted below. Responsibility of comments rests solely with the writer. Comments posted in ALL CAPS will be deleted.

Submission of a comment does not guarantee publication. Comments will be posted by a moderator after being scanned for abusive language, relevance, etc. See our Comments FAQ for more details.