Our Program

Community Concerns, Inc. through its flagship program, Odyssey III has carefully crafted a complete program for addressing the needs and concerns of area homeless citizens.

Beginning with a competent staff of professionals, residents are offered the following services to assist them on "the journey" from homelessness to permanent housing and self sufficiency.

Food Stamps through Dept. of Family and Children Services

Meal Program

Odyssey III provides daily meals for the homeless. Each participant in the Odyssey III program is offered the option to eat in the daily congregate meal.  Participants who have been to Odyssey III are issued meal tickets which gives access to the meals for a period of time agreed upon by case manager and client.  First time clients may participate in the meal program if they present a referral, shelter letter, or other documentation at being in a homeless situation.  Meals hours are Monday – Friday, 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Saturday 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.; Sunday – Breakfast 8:30 a.m.

Transitional

Odyssey III Transitional is a residential program designed to provide a healthy environment for recovery from homelessness.  Participants must be adult males who are able to be employed on a full-time basis, and currently experiencing homelessness.  Each resident is asked to commit to at least six month to allow time to adequately address their various obstacles to self-sufficiency.  A consumer can remain in housing for a maximum of 2 years.  Each resident must have at least 30 days of sobriety, and be able to pass a drug screening.  In addition, each resident must be screened for tuberculosis and have evidence of testing negative for the disease. There is a weekly program fee of $80.00.

Odyssey III – Safe Haven is a transitional residence designed to provide a safe and healthy environment for recovery from homelessness and dual diagnosis issues.  Participants must be adult males who are diagnosed with a chronic and persistent mental illness  and currently experiencing homelessness.  The Odyssey III- Safe Haven offers a safe alternative to mass emergency shelter for those men whose mental illness may make the transitional emergency shelter environment unbearable.

Each candidate for this program must have 30 days of sobriety, and be able to pass a drug screening.  In addition, each resident must be screened for tuberculosis, and have evidence of testing negative for the disease.  Each resident must also be connected to a psychiatrist and judged to be able to live in a semi-independent setting. 

Odyssey III staff provides residential support utilizing an individualized, holistic, client-centered approach.  We provide therapeutic group and individual counseling.  These groups include Anger Management, Dual Diagnosis Education, Double Trouble, Exercise Group, Life Skills Group Spiritual Recovery and Relapse Prevention. 

Odyssey III case management and supportive services program is the primary vehicle of daily service delivery at Odyssey III.  Each morning, Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Odyssey III case managers intake and assess new clients to the program.  This process begins with homeless verification by an Intake Specialist (who insures each participant meets program the criteria.  Then a qualified and experienced case manager conducts a needs assessment and inputs demographic background information into the Odyssey III database.

Case manager and client then agree upon particular goals and tasks that will lead the client toward a greater level of self-sufficiency.  Clients are often given information on services/resources available to them through Odyssey III and other local homeless service providers.  The Odyssey III case manager then chooses and implements appropriate interventions and assigns a related task to be completed by the consumer prior to their next case meeting.

Odyssey III case management may offer support to a client for up to a year after they have moved out of the homeless situation and into a more permanent housing placement.

The One Stop Workforce (OWF) is a job placement program that assists clients by assessing their skills and aptitude; providing them with job readiness/job search assistance; and connecting them with appropriate job placements.

Each OWF participant must be referred by the Odyssey III case management program.  They are required to have a minimum of 30 days of sobriety and be able to work a full-time job.  Participants are given access to the Georgia Department of Labor database and allowed to apply for various jobs electronically through the on-site computer lab.  The program also assists with developing resumes and providing appropriate interview clothing through our on-site clothing bank.    

Odyssey III case management/supportive services, employment and meals programs are open to all homeless adults, regardless of gender.  We also offer emergency shelter for women and children through a facility located at 125 Ellis Street.  This facility provides clean, safe accommodations, meals and case management to facilitate transition to a more permanent housing option.