The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners convened on July 22, 2025, to address several key issues, primarily focusing on homelessness, housing initiatives, and procedural matters.

The meeting commenced with a discussion on a delegation trip to Texas, led by Commissioner Terry and another commissioner, aimed at learning from San Antonio and Houston's successful approaches to homelessness. The trip is part of ongoing efforts to adopt a "housing first" model, which emphasizes providing stable housing as a primary solution to homelessness. The commissioners expressed pride in the collaborative efforts of the District 2 team and other stakeholders involved in this initiative.

Commissioner Bolton raised concerns regarding a resolution that commits the county to establish a plan to address homelessness by June 30, 2025, noting that the deadline had already passed. She questioned whether there had been discussions about extending this deadline. In response, it was clarified that the Behavioral Health Coalition is working diligently on the plan, which is now expected to be completed by December 31, 2025. An amendment to adjust the deadline was proposed and accepted.

Further discussions highlighted the importance of the housing first model, which integrates housing with supportive services. The commissioners acknowledged the need for a comprehensive approach to effectively address homelessness, emphasizing the importance of due diligence in developing the plan.

The meeting also included procedural discussions regarding speaking limits for commissioners, with a point of order raised about adherence to the rules governing debate. The rules stipulate that each commissioner may speak twice on any given issue, a guideline that was reiterated during the meeting.

Several resolutions were presented, including a motion to defer discussions on the creation of a land trust for DeKalb County and the establishment of an Arts and Culture Council. Both motions passed, allowing for further consideration at future meetings.

In conclusion, the meeting underscored the Board's commitment to addressing homelessness through a structured plan and collaborative efforts while navigating procedural challenges. The next steps include finalizing the homelessness plan by December and continuing discussions on various resolutions in upcoming meetings.