FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New Life Community Alliance
Contact: Michael Bryant, CEO
Phone: 770-570-0354
Email: mbryant@nlca-atl.org
New Life Community Alliance and DeKalb County Launch New Day Center to Support Individuals Experiencing Homelessness
Soft Opening Scheduled for Monday, June 15, 2026
New Life Community Alliance (NLCA), in partnership with DeKalb County, will open its new South DeKalb Day Center at New Life on Monday, June 15. The center will provide a safe, structured environment where individuals experiencing homelessness can access essential services and begin a pathway toward housing, employment, and long-term stability.
Located at the New Life Community Alliance campus (3592 Flat Shoals Road, Decatur), the Day Center will provide wraparound services such as case management, housing and shelter navigation, counseling, GED Program, computer lab, hot meals, clothing, barber and beauty services, restrooms, showers, and medical services. Claratel Behavioral Health will provide behavioral health services and support for participants, and WorkSource DeKalb will assist with employment services.
“Every individual deserves the opportunity to move beyond crisis and toward stability,” said Michael Bryant, CEO of NLCA. “By working together, we can remove barriers, provide meaningful support, and help people take the next steps toward housing, employment and long-term independence.”
The implementation approach is designed to introduce a structured and fully integrated service model from the outset, while scaling capacity over time. The program will operate with a controlled number of residents to establish daily flow, test intake processes, and ensure staff alignment across all service areas.
The Day Center will launch through a phased 90-day implementation plan designed to ensure high-quality service delivery from day one. Initial operations will focus on establishing effective intake processes, coordinated case management, and participant engagement. Services and capacity will expand throughout the implementation period, with the goal of reaching full operational capacity by the end of the first 90 days.
“Homelessness is one of the most complex issues facing communities across the nation, and meaningful progress requires partnership, innovation and compassion,” said DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson. “This new center strengthens our ability to meet residents where they are, provide critical support services, and create opportunities for long-term success. It represents another step forward in our efforts to build a more responsive and coordinated system of care throughout DeKalb County.”
The Day Center is designed to help individuals move from crisis to stability through a coordinated approach that addresses both immediate needs and long-term goals. Participants will have access to individualized support plans focused on housing, employment, healthcare, and self-sufficiency.
The Day Center will connect participants with county agencies, nonprofit organizations, healthcare providers, housing resources, and workforce development partners. By bringing services together in one location, the program will reduce barriers to access and create a more coordinated response to homelessness in DeKalb County.
DeKalb County plans to operate the Day Center at New Life Community Alliance for approximately seven months while evaluating locations for a permanent shelter facility. NLCA will continue to provide wraparound services for a full year and will transition those services to the permanent location in January 2027 once it is established, helping ensure continuity of care and ongoing support for participants.
Individuals seeking services or organizations interested in partnering with the Day Center may visit www.nlca-atl.org or call (404) 381-6731 for additional information.
About New Life Community Alliance
New Life Community Alliance (NLCA) is a nonprofit organization serving South DeKalb through programs focused on housing stability, food security, workforce development, education, health equity, and community revitalization. For nearly 25 years, NLCA has helped individuals and families move from crisis to stability through coordinated services and strategic partnerships. In 2025, NLCA served 6,977 clients, distributed more than 967,000 pounds of food, and connected more than 1,700 individuals to employment services. Learn more at www.nlca-atl.org.
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