Mayor Andre Dickens and Atlanta City Council have announced a significant financing proposal aiming to tackle the city's growing homelessness crisis, with a record $60 million proposed to fund the initiative, as reported by the City of Atlanta’s official website. The legislation, introduced this Tuesday, comprises a $50 million Homeless Opportunity Bond and an additional $10 million allocation from the City’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund over the following six years. Dickens and the council are positioned to deliver the largest investment ever in the city's history to combat homelessness, combining these funds with anticipated public and private contributions that could exceed $120 million.
In a move signaling both an acknowledgement of the deepening issue and a commitment to structuring long-term solutions, the proposed funding is set to not just provide temporary shelter but to construct up to 700 units of deeply affordable housing, which is critically needed as the city grapples with a hike in unsheltered individuals—a 63% increase since the pandemic began from 640 in 2022 to 1,040 in 2024, data from the 2024 Point-in-Time Count by Partners for HOME, an organization coordinating Atlanta’s Continuum of Care (CoC), underscores the urgency of this investment that comes seven years after the previous Homeless Opportunity Bond was issued which had managed to raise $50 million through local public finance matched with philanthropic support.
According to a City of Atlanta press release, Mayor Dickens emphasized the project's communal spirit saying, "This is not just about offering someone a roof over their heads for a night or two. It is about creating a pathway and building a foundation for a better life." He also expressed gratitude towards the City Council for their collaboration and to The Community Foundation for its significant upfront commitment. The proposed developments, such as 500 quick-delivery modular housing units expedited by the Mayor’s Rapid Housing Initiative and utilizing city-owned land, would offer more than just a place to stay, but also crucial on-site services.
Councilmember Jason Winston emphasized that "Housing is a cornerstone of neighborhood infrastructure – just like our streets, sidewalks, transit, and parks," as mentioned in the same press release. He advocated for investing in stable, affordable housing to create a more vibrant future for the downtown area. The administration has taken a multifaceted approach since 2022, including projects like The Melody, which provides 40 units of supportive housing. Efforts have also focused on preventing displacement among low-income renters and senior homeowners and coordinating street outreach for residents living in encampments. As federal pandemic relief has dwindled, the city is now turning to a mix of local and private funding sources to continue addressing homelessness.
The announcement mirrors the larger agenda of Mayor Dickens to not only confront immediate crises but to drive forward a holistic revitalization of Downtown Atlanta, marking it as a priority geography for his administration's neighborhood revitalization initiative to address long-standing disinvestment using a comprehensive, government-wide development strategy that is inclusive of housing, transit, and overall neighborhood health as he works closely with the City Council, CoC providers, and organizations like Partners for HOME.
