Cathedral of Christ the King and neighboring churches partner with Intown Cares to support homeless community in Buckhead.

Atlanta’s homeless community has found a new source of support through a collaborative effort involving the Cathedral of Christ the King and several neighboring churches. These faith communities have partnered with Intown Cares, a local nonprofit, to address the growing need for assistance in the Buckhead area.

After the pandemic, many service organizations faced financial strain and began to close, leaving a significant gap in support for unhoused individuals. Recognizing this need, the Cathedral of Christ the King, the Cathedral of St. Philip, Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, and Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church came together to offer help.

Wendy Klump, associate director of discipleship at Christ the King, shared that the churches had been discussing ways to respond to homelessness. “We had all been talking, asking, ‘What can we do as a faith community to help with this homeless situation?’” she said. “There were a couple of situations where the homeless were sleeping right outside our doors, and we were thinking, ‘How do we help?’”

The churches reached out to Intown Cares, which has a long history of working with the homeless. Brad Schweers, executive director of Intown Cares, noted that churches often provide a unique environment where people—whether housed or unhoused—can build meaningful relationships.

The initiative, now in its first year, is known as Buckhead Cares. It is based at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, where a housing support case manager holds office hours twice a week. Intown Cares’ mission is to “prevent and reverse homelessness and hunger in Intown Atlanta” by enrolling unhoused individuals in their program, offering resource and support services, and helping find permanent housing for those who qualify.

Building trust is a crucial part of the process. Schweers emphasized that trust is earned, not given, especially with people experiencing homelessness. “We don’t do anything without trust,” he said. “That’s the currency we really operate with.”

While the work of Buckhead Cares requires patience and persistence, many relationships already exist within the participating churches. Christ the King is proud to support this partnership, recognizing the importance of community and compassion in addressing the needs of the unhoused.

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