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Who We Are + What We Do

Mission

To connect people experiencing homelessness with the support necessary to become self-sufficient and find a permanent home.

Vision

To live in a community where homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring.

Goal

By 2025, Gateway Center will achieve an annual average of 65% of guests transitioning to a positive housing placement upon discharge.

Who we are What we do

Programs + Services

Together, we are making a difference.

Coordinated Entry

Coordinated entry services connects men, women, and families with the most appropriate housing resources to assist them in ending their homelessness.

Upward — provides beds for up to 90 days and is a residential addiction recovery program designed to support men in their efforts to end their addiction. Guests develop a plan for implementing and sustaining a substance abuse recovery plan, and then connect to employment resources and stable housing. Through intensive case manage services and the utilization of a pre-treatment curriculum for single men, individuals are able to remain clean and sober.

Veterans

The Veteran’s Program is a maximum two year program housed at the Gateway Center and supported in collaboration with the US Department of Veterans Affairs. There are 46 beds in the Veterans Program. Clients in the Veterans Program are all referred to the Gateway Center through Atlanta’s Homeless Veterans Program.

New Beginnings

New Beginnings is a Gateway Center residential program that addresses a variety of factors that may contribute to homelessness. This program is a great fit for single men who may be seeking employment, addressing educational, legal, and critical life needs.

Program Spotlight

Gateway Center’s programs are making a significant impact on the community by helping those in need. See where YOU can get plugged in!

Engagement Center

To connect people experiencing homelessness with the support necessary to become self-sufficient and find a permanent home.

Evolution Center

Evolution Center provides emotional and physical support for men who are experiencing homelessness.

Coordinated Entry Services

Coordinated entry services connects men, women, and families with the most appropriate housing resources to assist them in ending their homelessness.

Trinity Women’s Center

Trinity Women’s Center has been a resource for women and children experiencing homelessness in Atlanta since the 90’s.

Success Stories

These success stories demonstrate the impact Gateway Center’s programs are having on those we serve!

Homeless at Hartsfield on doc

In November of 2011, things took a downhill turn. In the wake of the recession, AT&T was forced to do some layoffs. “I heard rumors, but never thought they’d mess with the marketing people.” But they did, and he was cut.

Security Officer Graduation

Congratulations! Today, our first set of guests graduated, and five of the seven graduates were offered part-time.

Congrats Mr. Denver Burton!

Congratulations to Mr. Denver Burton who moved into his own apartment at O’Hern House!

Meet Our Team!

Our team has embraced the mindset of Everybody vs. Homelessness - we believe that together, we can make a difference in our community!

Drew Benton

Drew Benton joined the Gateway Center team in May of 2022. Drew has been a leader in the non-profit community since 2000. His career began in traditional ministry, serving as a student pastor and college pastor. In 2003, Drew launched a speaking ministry called Refuge Ministries. Through Refuge Ministries, he traveled and spoke to thousands of teenagers and adults across the country and in Germany.

Drew then took a short time away from “traditional ministry leadership,” sensing he had some personal development that he needed to do first. It was during this time he learned the extreme importance of “living love.” Not just preaching and teaching love, but finding ways to tangibly show love to others.

In 2006, Drew met a man named Philip Bray, Founder and Executive Director of SafeHouse Outreach. The two began a friendship that led to Drew volunteering at SafeHouse. That volunteer position grew into a full time Director position with SafeHouse Outreach in 2007. The next three years were spent serving and loving homeless men and women of Atlanta. Drew’s life and career were transformed during his time serving at SafeHouse. He was able to live love to people in need in very real and tangible ways. Where people were hungry, he could provide food. Where people were thirsty, he could provide water, and so much more.

In 2009, Drew stepped away from SafeHouse Outreach to found Project Live Love, an organization dedicated to influencing the culture with the concept of “love-in-action.” Under his leadership, Project Live Love developed many successful events and programs including THREE- OH-WE-GO, LIVE LOVE EVENTS, and GET SET. Through these events and programs, Drew activated over 8,000 individuals to show their love to others affecting the lives of over 25,000 people in need.

In 2019, Drew returned to SafeHouse Outreach as the Director of Operations. He served there for two and a half years until departing to accept a position as the Director of Community Engagement and Volunteer Services at Gateway Center.