Shelter Rights Project
Together with our partners at the National Homelessness Law Center, We advocate for young people in metro Atlanta who have been illegally terminated from shelter and housing programs to secure re-entry (if desired), while working with providers and the broader community to strengthen due process rights.
Advocating for young people's due process rightsServes young people between 16-24 years old who have previously been terminated or banned from a publicly-funded shelter or housing program in the Atlanta area without a clear process, or experienced other violations of their rights (e.g., forced to sleep on the floor, or experienced gender or sexual orientation discrimination). Through direct legal representation, we help ensure these young people’s rights are respected and proper procedures are followed.
In 2024, Aliyah (22) became unhoused. She was then terminated from a local young adult shelter in violation of her due process rights. We got Aliyah back into shelter, but the Atlanta youth homelessness system could never quite help her get stably housed.
In early 2026, we used funds from the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta to pay for 3 months of rent and a deposit for Aliyah to move into her own place. She is now stably housed and thriving.
With your support, we can help more young people like Aliyah.
Aliyah’s journey to stable housing with SLCY
Maine Law Review: Exploring Due Process Rights and Litigation Strategies for Homeless Youth Under Federal Law
Authored by John A. Salois, National Homelessness Law Center, and Liz Harding Chao, Southern Legal Center for Youth, this law review article published in the Maine Law Review Vol. 77, No. 2 discusses litigation strategies to realize young people’s property rights in shelter and housing programs.
“I love you guys. I really don’t know what I would do without your help. I just wanted to let you know I got a lead position promotion at my job. Guaranteed 40 hours and a pay raise. I just got the job a week ago and I’m already the best they have.”
— Former client served by the Shelter Rights Project who was illegally terminated from shelter and a Rapid Re-housing program and is now stably housed as a result of flexible funding received from the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta