Chatham County celebrates first two graduates of new Homeless Court program

CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - Chatham County celebrated the first two graduates of its new Homeless Court program on Tuesday, marking what local leaders hope is a new pathway for people experiencing homelessness to resolve low-level charges while working toward stable housing.

Instead of a traditional courtroom setting, the court was held at the Emmaus House Resource Center in Savannah.

Two men had their non-violent, low-level cases resolved after Chatham County Superior Court Judge Lisa Colbert heard testimony from their attorney and case manager about the steps they have taken or are taking to exit homelessness.

“There were definite tears in my eyes to see this come to life,” Executive Director of the Interagency Council on Homelessness, Stephanie Kaple, said.

Colbert said the program offers judges an uncommon opportunity to see progress, not just sentencing.

“As judges, we typically don’t see the end unless it’s the end of a trial and we must sentence someone or the end of a guilty plea and we sentence someone,” Colbert said. “This is gratifying for us as judges because we got to hear the progress that these graduates have made.”

Officials said that for one of the graduates, the charge had limited his ability to use public transportation, making it harder to get to Veterans Affairs appointments and even to the store. The other graduate was on probation.

Laura Cook, a case manager with Union Mission, said resolving the cases can help reduce barriers as participants work to rebuild.

“Seeing them transition from having a charge to coming out of the charge is a really good impact on the later experience in life,” Cook said.

With their cases resolved, both men no longer have to worry about upcoming court appearances and can focus on the next steps toward stability.

Stephanie Kaple, executive director of the Interagency Council on Homelessness, said the program is designed to meet people where they are — and help them move forward.

“There are people who want to change their lives, there are people who want to get out of homelessness, there are people who want to get out of the legal system, and all we have to do is give them that support to do it,” Kaple said.

Kaple said the hope is that more people in the homeless community in Chatham County and Savannah will take advantage of the program.

The program also has volunteer opportunities.

Links to volunteer can be found here.