The Athens Area Homeless Shelter (AAHS) has named Olivia Amato, a former team member, as its new Executive Director. Amato currently serves as a program specialist with Voices for Georgia’s Children; from 2017-2023 she served as operations coordinator and community engagement coordinator for AAHS.

She will assume her new role on November 4, 2024. 

“When I learned that Shea (Post, the former Executive Director) would be moving on from our organization, Olivia was my first thought as her natural successor,” said Cullen Timmons, chair of the AAHS board of directors. “She had given so much to our organization over the years that she was here, and her knowledge of the ins and outs of our organization as well as local homelessness and politics would have taken years for someone else to learn. I can speak for everyone on the board when I say that we are thrilled that Olivia chose to come back to us, and we can't wait to work with her in the coming years to continue the great and important work of ending child homelessness in the Athens area.”

In her role at Voices for Georgia’s Children, Amato’s responsibilities included planning and managing statewide legislative events to promote child well-being initiatives and foster collaboration among stakeholders. She has also organized Georgia Pre-K Week in partnership with the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning. 

During her previous tenure at AAHS, Amato collaborated with colleagues and community partners to enhance volunteer engagement, adapt outreach strategies, modernize the organization’s online presence, and expand funding opportunities to support shelter operations and programming. These efforts were aimed at raising awareness of family homelessness in the community, and she looks forward to continuing this growth and deepening the impact of AAHS's work in partnership with the team and community partners.

“I am incredibly grateful to return to Athens Area Homeless Shelter, where I had the pleasure of working for nearly seven years. I have firsthand experience of the compassionate and dedicated service this team provides to our community, and it is an honor to lead them,” Amato said. “Housing instability, particularly for families, is a significant concern in our community and across Georgia, with more than 41,000 children identified as experiencing homelessness in our state last year alone. The impact of unstable housing on health, education, and overall well-being is profound and requires a multifaceted approach. I look forward to collaborating with the AAHS team, our community partners, and families as we work together to provide reliable support for families to access safe, healthy housing and achieve long-term stability.”

Amato holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in Social Work, Community Empowerment and Program Development, both from the University of Georgia. She holds a certificate in Nonprofit Management, also from UGA.

The community is invited to meet Amato Friday, Dec. 6 from 8-10 am in the Synovus Bank Community Room 150 W. Hancock Avenue. The event is sponsored by Good Works Consulting, LLC.

The Athens Area Homeless Shelter provides collaborative, comprehensive services to homeless individuals and families working toward sustainable independence. The organization primarily serves families and children seeking permanent housing solutions.