PAD halts operations at Diversion Center amid city contract dispute
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The city of Atlanta and the Policing Alternatives and Diversion Initiative are again at odds over changes to their contract that the latter contends will affect how they serve clients.
Why it matters: The dispute over the contract, which expired at the end of December, means PAD has not been able to accept new clients who are referred to the Center for Diversion Services.
- And since late March, PAD has not been operating in the center, executive director Moki Macias told Axios.
How it works: Located in a separate space at the city's Downtown jail, the center is a 24/7 drop-off for people experiencing mental health issues, housing instability or substance use disorders.
- Grady Health System primarily operates the center.
What they're saying: Macias said the contract changes impose a 12-month limit on care navigation efforts and require case managers to max out at 20 clients to help stay within the $5 million budget.
- She said it can take years to help people who've been on the streets for decades and "in active addiction for much of that time."
- "The idea that recovery should happen on an arbitrary, top-down timeline is not person-centered and it's not evidence-based," Macias said.
Caveat: The contract dispute does not affect PAD's community response efforts, such as when someone calls 311 and requests help.
The other side: The city, in a statement, accused PAD of "abandoning their role in the Diversion Center partnership," but said there have been no service disruptions because Grady stepped in to assume those responsibilities.
- The city also said PAD was recently paid about $218,000 for the community response services it provides in Atlanta.
- A city spokesperson said Grady on March 19 informed Mayor Andre Dickens' administration that PAD did not sign a document outlining tasks and responsibilities it would handle and "packed their boxes and left."
Catch up quick: This latest standoff comes after the city and PAD were locked in another contract dispute that came to a head in late 2024, but was resolved in early 2025.
What's next: Macias, who said the city's statement is "patently false," told Axios a Justice Policy Board meeting is scheduled for June 11 and hopes diversion partners will be able to resolve the issue soon.
- "If we can't staff our program, we're going to have to wind it down, but we're hoping not to get to that place," she said.