Simon Bloom has been named Chair of the Board of Georgia Works, a program to end homelessness, addiction and criminal recidivism. Georgia Works changes the lives of chronically homeless men and women through education and the development of good habits, work ethic and character. 

Bloom is a trial attorney and founder of Bloom Parham, a national trial boutique specializing in large scale business disputes primarily in the real estate industry. Bloom has a long history of working to improve the outcomes of the most disadvantaged children through his work with the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Atlanta and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. He also serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Atlanta Police Foundation with a focus on crime prevention and early intervention through youth development. Bloom is also on the Board of Visitors for Georgia State University College of Law. 

“I am honored to be named the new chair of the board and continue to build on the great work and expansion plans already underway at Georgia Works,” says Simon Bloom. “Founder Bill McGahan and past chair, Chip Patterson, have built this organization to help thousands of men and now women be self-sufficient members of society. I am excited to lead the organization as it meets new goals and provides opportunities for more Georgians to lead productive lives.”

Georgia Works invests in formerly homeless or incarcerated men and women. The program houses participants at its facility for up to one year while they work in transitional jobs. All participants must remain drug and alcohol-free while at the facility. Professional support is provided with workforce training, AA/NA classes, GED classes, personal support and life skill courses. The program’s goal is to have each person in a full-time job and permanent housing, after one year. Seventy percent of the men who start the program graduate one year later. The first women’s program started in Oakhurst in December 2025. 

Former Board Chair Chip Patterson will remain active with Georgia Works and will continue his work with Atlanta’s homeless population. 

“I am excited for Simon to take Georgia Works to the next level,” says Chip Patterson, outgoing Board Chair for Georgia Works. “We are proud of the work that has gone into changing over 1,000 lives for the better and creating successful members of society.” 

“Georgia Works has always been different then other homeless service programs because it requires chronically homeless men and women to be clean from alcohol and drugs and to work," says founder Bill McGahan. “Prior to Georgia Works, someone experiencing homelessness had nowhere to turn to get the help they needed to change their habits and mindset to be successful. The residents of Georgia Works want to change their life, get a full time job, be a parent, and be a responsible, tax-paying member of society. Georgia Works fills that need.” 

Georgia Works graduates have also achieved the program’s goal of self-sufficiency:

•  100% of  participants are hired by graduation
• 80%+ of graduates remain employed in their original job
• 90%+ of graduates are now in contact with their minor children and families
• 99% of graduates have not been arrested after leaving the program