PAD Atlanta announced Thursday that their Community Response services have been suspended until further notice due to their month-to-month contract extension. (Matthew Pearson/WABE)
Updated on Jan. 3, 2025, at 11:30 a.m.
A local nonprofit dedicated to keeping some of Atlanta’s most vulnerable residents out of jail was no longer contracted with the city for several days.
Policing Alternatives & Diversion Initiative (PAD) Atlanta announced Thursday morning that their Community Response services had been suspended until further notice due to their month-to-month contract extension with the City of Atlanta expiring on Dec. 31.
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The nonprofit, which has been in operation since 2017, assists in providing community-based services to metro Atlanta residents experiencing a severe poverty, mental illness or substance abuse crisis.
In association with ATL311’s Supportive Services department, residents were able to call the hotline to make non-emergency referrals that would be dispatched by PAD.
The organization’s uncertain future with the city came to a head in October, when the office of Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens held an invite-only bidding process for diversion services after the city had already granted PAD the contract. The actions briefly prevented the council from moving forward with their decision.
On Nov. 18, the Atlanta City Council officially authorized a new contract with PAD, extending its agreement for another two years and $5 million.
“We’re really looking forward to continue serving our community and to continue growing this effort throughout the city so that more people who are struggling to survive out on the street are responded to with care instead of with punishment,” Moki Macias, executive director of PAD, told WABE shortly after the decision.
However, as of Thursday, no plans had been announced as to if or when the services will restart.
On Thursday morning, the City of Atlanta issued a statement commenting on the contract negotiations, claiming that Macias decided to suspend the organization’s work with the city after “negotiating in good faith, and arriving at a new agreement.”
“The previous agreement lacked the necessary performance metrics that would ensure taxpayers were getting the services for which they paid,” the statement read.
“In anticipation of any potential delays from the signature process, the City offered to extend its ongoing month to month contract until this process was complete to ensure PADs work would continue. PAD refused.”
The city also stated that diversion services will continue to be offered to residents through the City’s HOPE team until a new contract with PAD can be finalized. They also encouraged residents to continue to call 311 if they are aware of any individuals suffering from a mental health or substance abuse crisis.
On Friday, PAD announced that the city officially awarded the organization a contract for mobile referrals.
“We have signed the contract and will resume services to the City of Atlanta when the contract is executed by the Mayor’s Office,” PAD wrote in an Instagram post. “We look forward to continuing to serve our community as Atlanta’s homegrown, community-based non-police response team.”
WABE crime reporter Chamian Cruz contributed to this report.
