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MACH’s Story

It starts in 1996, when the City of Montgomery appointed 20 organizational representatives to form the Montgomery Area Coalition for the Homeless.

Those 20 representatives were associated with agencies that provided health, mental health, and social services in the community. The purpose of this unincorporated group was to provide the necessary community assessment, coordination and planning related to homelessness in order to make the community agencies eligible for homeless continuum of care funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Our Mission

The mission of the Mid-Alabama Coalition for the Homeless is to evaluate needs, facilitate solutions, and seek resources to end homelessness in the River Region.

get to know us

MACH’s Story

It starts in 1996, when the City of Montgomery appointed 20 organizational representatives to form the Montgomery Area Coalition for the Homeless.

Those 20 representatives were associated with agencies that provided health, mental health, and social services in the community. The purpose of this unincorporated group was to provide the necessary community assessment, coordination and planning related to homelessness in order to make the community agencies eligible for homeless continuum of care funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The members of the Coalition met monthly to discuss issues related to homelessness in the Montgomery area, resulting in the award of the first HUD homeless continuum of care grant in 1997 subsequent to the formation of the organization.

Our Mission

The mission of the Mid-Alabama Coalition for the Homeless is to evaluate needs, facilitate solutions, and seek resources to end homelessness in the River Region.

Our Vision

MACH envisions a community where all people affected by homelessness live fulfilling lives supported by a community that cares.

The members of the Coalition met monthly to discuss issues related to homelessness in the Montgomery area, resulting in the award of the first HUD homeless continuum of care grant in 1997 subsequent to the formation of the organization.

Our Vision

MACH envisions a community where all people affected by homelessness live fulfilling lives supported by a community that cares.

The Growing Need for Support

Between 1996 and 2001, the Coalition operated as an unincorporated organization. During this period of time, the community interest in homelessness was growing and the membership was expanding to include business, religious, government, health, legal and homeless community representatives.

On December 20, 2001, the Montgomery Area Coalition for the Homeless, Inc. was incorporated as an Alabama nonprofit corporation eligible for tax exemption as an IRS 501(c)3 charitable nonprofit organization. In 2003, the organization officially expanded its activities to include Montgomery, Elmore, Lowndes and Bullock counties. Autauga County was added in 2009. As a result of this expansion, MACH began doing business as the Mid-Alabama Coalition for the Homeless on December 9, 2003.

From 2001 to 2006, the members of the Board of Directors were 30 of the organizational representatives and supportive members. As a result of a consultation session provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, it was decided by the membership that a smaller Board of Directors was needed for the governance of the organization, and on January 26, 2006, MACH elected a thirteen member Board of Directors to govern the organization. The Board was expanded to sixteen members in January 2011.

The Growing Need for Support

Between 1996 and 2001, the Coalition operated as an unincorporated organization. During this period of time, the community interest in homelessness was growing and the membership was expanding to include business, religious, government, health, legal and homeless community representatives.

On December 20, 2001, the Montgomery Area Coalition for the Homeless, Inc. was incorporated as an Alabama nonprofit corporation eligible for tax exemption as an IRS 501(c)3 charitable nonprofit organization. In 2003, the organization officially expanded its activities to include Montgomery, Elmore, Lowndes and Bullock counties. Autauga County was added in 2009. As a result of this expansion, MACH began doing business as the Mid-Alabama Coalition for the Homeless on December 9, 2003.

From 2001 to 2006, the members of the Board of Directors were 30 of the organizational representatives and supportive members. As a result of a consultation session provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, it was decided by the membership that a smaller Board of Directors was needed for the governance of the organization, and on January 26, 2006, MACH elected a thirteen member Board of Directors to govern the organization. The Board was expanded to sixteen members in January 2011.

MACH Board

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Acquanetta Knight, M.Ed. 
Retired
President

Ghandi Daniels, MSW
Executive Director, The Wellness Coalition
Vice President

Ken Austin
Executive Director, The Mercy House

Craig H. Baab
Retired

Cynthia Bisbee, Ph.D.
Owner/Consultant, Bisbee and Associates, LLC

Preston Cobb
Community-at-Large Member

Tasha Cooper, MS
Executive Director, HandsOn River Region

James Dupree, Jr.
TMS Consulting, LLC

Donna Leslie, LPC
Executive Director, Montgomery Area Mental Health Authority

James Lovejoy
Chairperson, Sigma Phi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi, Inc. 

Michael Murphree, LICSW
Community-at-Large Member

Jayme Teague
Executive Director, Family Promise of Montgomery

Bernard Houston, J. D., M. Ed
Alabama State Department of Human Resources Administrator for Childcare Services and Workforce Development

MACH Staff

Lydia C. Pickett
Executive Director
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Catherine Washington
Management Assistant
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Sandra Kelly
Accountant
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Darrell L. Cates, DM
Program Services Coordinator
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Patrick Aitken
Outreach Worker
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Marchelle Henderson
Case Manager
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Breonna Alexander
Case Manager (part time)
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MACH Funders & Supporting Organizations

Our sincerest thanks to the funders who are helping make MACH’s work possible. If you or your business is interested in sponsoring the work of MACH, please contact the MACH office at (334) 261-6182.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) is committed to their mission: Building Better Alabama Communities. Through partnerships with local governments, nonprofit groups, state and federal agencies, and other agencies, the men and women of ADECA work every day to improve the quality of life for Alabamians.

St. John’s Episcopal Church, established in the 1830s, is a vibrant part of downtown Montgomery. With an active congregation of all ages, beautiful liturgy and music, and exciting offerings in Christian formation, mission, and ministry, they share in the life and energy of the Kingdom of God that is alive and well in this area.

Through the generous support of individual and corporate donors, the Central Alabama Community Foundation provides over $5 million in grants and scholarships each year that meet diverse community needs, supporting programs and projects in education, human services, health, cultural arts and other civic concerns.

CoC Planning funds from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provide housing support and uplift communities. Through their focus areas, HUD is strengthening commitment for the people they serve by setting robust expectations, pushing themselves to deliver on their mission even more efficiently and effectively, and elevating the voices of the underserved, while focusing efforts to improve equity through the programs they deliver.

Emergency Solutions grant funds from the City of Montgomery help MACH continue our important work in our community. Montgomery is a city rich in history, yet clearly focused on the future. Montgomery grew to become the epicenter of the Civil Rights Movement. Today, Montgomery is more than just the capital of Alabama – it is the epitome of economic prosperity and has become a showplace for southern hospitality, beautiful weather and high-tech jobs.

We need your support to end homelessness in the River Region.

Your donation today will assist in breaking the cycle of homelessness and help provide access to a safe place to sleep for an individual or family in our area.