Project Interconnections was organized in Atlanta, Georgia in 1988 by private citizens. It began with a mother’s desire to provide housing and supportive services that could help her son fight his mental illness and avoid life on the streets. During this time, there were a few temporary traditional options for adults with mental illness: Shelters, group homes, jails, hospitals, state psychiatric hospitals and the streets. Many of the homeless mentally ill would try to live successfully in group homes, but if the restrictive environment did not work for them, there was no where else to go. The founding mother knew there had to be more options for homeless adults challenged with mental illness.

Together with her friends they appealed to top civic and business leaders whose lives and loved ones were affected by mental illness. Mrs. Rosalynn Carter hosted the first gathering of these leaders at the Carter Center, and by the end of the evening had committed herself to developing a model of excellence in Atlanta. Together, they launched Project Interconnections. The name represents the community connections that are restored when these men and women find permanent housing. They set out to create a new way of living for her son and all the other homeless mentally ill adults not being served effectively.

Thanks to their pioneering efforts twenty years ago, four such communities can be found in Atlanta today.

• Phoenix House: Oakland City, est.1987
• O’Hern House: Auburn Avenue District, est. 1993
• Presley Woods: Kirkwood, est.1996
• Rosalynn Apartments: Chamblee, est. 2000

Developing theses residences has been a partnership of public and private sectors. Service dollars come from state and federal programs and rent comes from federal assistance programs as well as from residents themselves who pay 30% of their income toward rent.