A sprawling homeless encampment under the I-85 overpass by Grady Memorial Hospital has grown so large it now blocks the sidewalk, pushing pedestrians into traffic. The city has posted a notice saying crews will begin clearing the camp on Friday, March 6. Neighbors and hospital workers say tents, mattresses and piles of trash have turned this stretch of Bell Street into an obstacle course, and that some people who leave during sweeps are back within days, fueling a debate over whether these clearances solve anything or simply shuffle people around.
Encampment details and city notice
According to 11Alive, the encampment lines Bell Street underneath I-85, where the sidewalk is now “obstructed by tents, mattresses, couches and piles of trash,” forcing people to walk in the street. The station reports that outreach workers have been visiting the site and that a city notice posted there says the encampment will be cleared beginning Friday, March 6. Nearby residents told 11Alive that in recent weeks they have seen more permanent-looking setups appear and that, even after people are told to leave, many return not long after.
City policy and past clearings
City officials in recent months have mounted multi-agency operations to clear encampments beneath highway overpasses, describing the work as a safety response to hazards on state right of way. As reported by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and outlined in a City of Atlanta press release, the city typically coordinates with GDOT and outreach partners when clearing camps that sit under or alongside highway structures.
Local leaders voice concern
Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari told 11Alive that “displacement does not correct behavior; housing and healthcare do and encampment closures should move people into stability,” urging the city to make sure clearances are tied to real placements rather than just clean pavement. Advocates say outreach and shelter offers have helped some people get indoors, but limited capacity and gaps in trauma-informed care mean many still slip through the cracks.
What to watch for this week
The city has posted advance notices at the Bell Street encampment and plans to begin clearing the area on Friday. Neighbors and hospital staff will be watching to see whether outreach teams can connect people to stable housing or whether the site simply fills back up again. Hoodline previously covered a similar Pryor Street relocation and the ongoing struggle to pair removals with permanent housing, which advocates say remains the missing piece of the city’s strategy. For now, the March 6 sweep under I-85 will serve as a short-term test of whether current outreach efforts lead to lasting placements or just another cycle of displacement and return.
