Residents of Atlanta, in the state of Georgia, can now dial 311 instead of 911 if they feel the need to call someone when a person is panhandling or looking for food and shelter, but don’t want to call the cops.
Calls are received by a referral co-ordinator from the Policing Alternatives & Diversion Initiative (PAD), who dispatches a two-person team of harm reduction specialists. The team brings food and hygiene items and speaks to the person who prompted the call to gauge their interest in receiving support.
