The City of Savannah presented a $10,000 check to the Savannah Pride Center on May 21 as part of a new Memorandum of Understanding between the two organizations. The event was attended by city leaders, volunteers, and community members at the Savannah Pride Center.
The partnership aims to provide support for LGBTQIA+ individuals in areas such as homelessness, youth services, and older adult care. This initiative is intended to address ongoing challenges faced by vulnerable groups in the community.
“We believe in supporting all of Savannah and are excited to offer this donation through our PROUD Savannah Task Force. This partnership reflects Savannah at its best–compassionate, collaborative, and committed to ensuring that every resident has access to dignity, safety, and opportunity,” said Mayor Van R. Johnson II. “At a time when many organizations serving vulnerable communities are facing uncertainty and shrinking resources, the City of Savannah is proud to stand with our PROUD Savannah Task Force and the Savannah Pride Center in support of LGBTQIA+ youth, older adults, and individuals experiencing homelessness. Together, we are building a city that is more inclusive, more equitable, and stronger for all.”
According to details outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), funds will be used equally for housing support—including a sheltering program lasting from 30 to 90 days—and other services targeting those experiencing homelessness within the LGBTQIA+ community. The effort also supports progress toward goals set by the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equity Index (MEI), which reviews cities’ laws and policies affecting LGBTQIA+ residents.
“This initiative advances several of the City’s strategic goals, including ending homelessness, improving housing stability, and connecting vulnerable residents to community-based services that meet them where they are,” said City Manager Jay Melder. “The Pride Center is a valued partner, and we’re proud to serve our LGBTQIA+ community together.”
Michael Bell, executive director of the Savannah Pride Center said: “This is coming at a time when many LGBTQIA+ organizations across this country are losing federal funding, when programs are shrinking, and when the most vulnerable in our communities are being pushed further into the margins. Moments like this matter.”
Savannah Pride Center serves as Georgia’s only dedicated center for LGBTQIA+ individuals offering medical resources as well as affirming healthcare connections. The collaboration aligns with broader city efforts focused on safe neighborhoods and improved quality of life through public service maintenance initiatives—efforts managed under financial operations led by its City Manager who oversees budget preparation for an organization employing around 2,400 people with an annual budget near $425 million according to the official site. The city also promotes healthy neighborhoods through public space maintenance according to the government operations page.
