Cobb County Board Approves Additional Funding for Homeless Warming Shelters
Pictured is a homeless camp near Bells Ferry Road and Interstate 75. Marietta Daily Journal.
Item 20 on the Consent Agenda contributes $50,000 in additional funding to provide warming shelter services for the homeless community in Cobb County on designated cold weather days.
This follows a Memorandum of Understanding approved in November between the county and Must Ministries, which operates an existing shelter and has been providing cold-weather services this season. Though Commissioner Gambrill opposed it, the motion passed.
Must’s facilities and staff have seen a “surge in shelter attendance and the provision of hotel accommodations for numerous families” during a winter season of “exceptionally cold temperatures” that has resulted in the warming shelter already being opened 30 days with the season still yet to conclude, according to county documents.
“This funding is crucial to sustain and expand services during the remaining winter months and to continue providing a warm and secure haven for those in need,” the county documents state.
Mableton & Cobb County Continue SDS Negotiations
Credit: Karys Belger
Last week’s joint Cobb County and City of Mableton town hall focused primarily on the government entities’ ongoing discussions on the Service Delivery Strategy (SDS). Georgia requires cities and counties every 10 years to agree on a new SDS agreement. Among the goals of these agreements are minimizing duplication of local services, and importantly for residents, ensuring they are not taxed twice for the same government services or taxed for any services they do not receive.
Cobb and the county’s six other cities agreed to their latest SDS agreement in 2024. Mableton and the county have yet to reach a long-term SDS agreement, only coming to terms on a one-year agreement last May, with Mableton officials agreeing to pay $9.5 million to cover county-provided police service.
In December, city officials voted to create a Public Safety Special Service District, which would allow the city to impose a tax for public safety, though no rate or amount has been determined yet. Mableton Mayor Michael Owens told those who attended the town hall, held in the Cobb County Public Safety Training Center, that his city’s goal is to reach an agreement with the county by the end of April. Negotiations, he said, have been ongoing for about six months. “We’re going to get it done,” Chairwoman Lisa Cupid said in response to one town hall attendee’s question on how close the two government entities are on reaching an agreement.
While Mableton and Cobb County had negotiated the $9.5 million figure to cover police and transportation services for the city, Cupid said the “cost far exceeds that.” Mableton is Cobb’s newest city, and the only one of the seven in Cobb that lacks its own police department. Among the issues raised by those who questioned Cupid and Owens were questions on whether Mableton residents would end up being double-taxed by the county and city. All residents in Cobb County, whether within a city’s limits or in unincorporated portions of Cobb, pay the countywide millage, which Cupid said goes toward services provided to the entire county (among them county courts, for example).
Several residents also raised issues about roadside litter, graffiti and other areas of blight in spots within the newly formed City of Mableton. Those with such concerns were encouraged to call the city’s Code Enforcement department.
Six easy ways to get involved: A Better Cobb rolls out ‘Civic Six’ engagement platform
One of the most common questions we hear is “how do I get involved?” Because of this, ABC has a major goal in 2026 to help get people more engaged in their community and the local decision-making process. Therefore, we have created SIX actionable items that we encourage YOU, our amazing members and supporters, to complete throughout 2026:
(1) Attend at least three ABC events
(2) Attend at least one local government meeting
(3) Attend (or watch) one public meeting/town hall
(4) Make a public comment on a local issue
(5) Volunteer for a cause/event in your community
(6) Educate yourself on ABC issues (reading a book, listening to podcasts, etc)
For more information, and to download a printable copy of this list, click here.
When you complete an item log it here so that we know that you’ve completed it. (And feel free to share on social media!)
Any supporter who completes and logs any of these items will be invited a special Civic Six event in early 2027. For each item you complete/log, you will eligible to receive a sticker for that item (similar to a voting sticker) at the event. Complete and record all 6, and you’ll receive a special Civic Six t-shirt too!
Thank you in advance for being engaged in your community!
Have you become a member of A Better Cobb yet?
You can now join the A Better Cobb Community as a sustaining member. Not only does it help us with our advocacy efforts, but you get access to a great community and some other awesome perks!
There are three different membership levels and you can join as either a monthly contributor or save 20% as an annual contributor.
Choose Your Membership
Advocate: $3 per month ($30 per year)
Benefactor: $5 per month ($50 per year)
Champion: $10 per month ($100 per year)
To join as an annual contributor, click here.
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🗓 Upcoming
📰 IN THE NEWS
Mableton’s Public Safety Plans Underway — The city voted to create a Public Safety Special Service District to fund services like police, though the tax rate is still undetermined.
🔗 https://cobbcountycourier.com/2026/01/mableton-receives-240k-federal-road-safety-grant/
World Cup hosting expecting to bring global attention, economic boost to Cobb
🔗https://www.mdjonline.com/news/world-cup-hosting-expected-to-bring-global-attention-economic-boost-to-cobb/article_fa6863e0-c722-4a8c-ac81-cd4324ddce0e.html
💡 GET INVOLVED
Public feedback: Residents are encouraged to report litter, graffiti, or blight in Mableton to the city’s Code Enforcement department.
🔗 [https://mableton.gov/code-enforcement]
📅 LOOKING AHEAD
Feb. 12 – SPLOST Community Engagement Meeting
Feb. 16 – Kennesaw and Smyrna City Council Meetings
Feb. 19 – Third Place Thursday at Round Trip Brewing
Feb. 25 - Next Cobb Board of Commissioners Meeting
Entire events calendar: https://abettercobb.com/events-calendar/
💬 Want something featured or have a tip? Reply to this newsletter or send it to:
📧 Nia – NiaLaing217@gmail.com
That’s it for this edition of the ABC Newsletter! Don’t forget to sign up as an ABC Member to receive future newsletters!
Love the Six easy ways to get involved! Great idea.