Atlanta's Downtown Rising Initiative Houses More Than 400 People

Atlanta's Downtown Rising initiative has now moved more than 430 people from the streets into housing, surpassing its goal of housing 400 people experiencing homelessness downtown.

The effort is led by Partners for HOME with the City of Atlanta and a network of more than 170 organizations. Twenty-four outreach workers are working downtown to connect people living outside with housing and supportive services.

More Than Moving People Off the Street

Downtown Rising is the first phase of Atlanta Rising, a larger $235 million effort aimed at reducing unsheltered homelessness throughout the city.

The approach combines street outreach with housing placement and continued support after someone is housed. Organizers say the goal is to take what is working downtown and expand it throughout Atlanta.

And the results matter. Moving more than 430 people into stable housing means hundreds of Atlantans who were sleeping outside now have somewhere to live. But there is another number we cannot ignore.

For Every Person Housed, More Are Becoming Homeless

Partners for HOME CEO Cathryn Vassell says that for every household Atlanta is currently housing, another two households are becoming homeless each day.

That's the larger problem.

A city can build housing, expand outreach and move hundreds of people off the street while homelessness continues to grow if more households are losing housing than the system can help. It is why homelessness prevention matters alongside shelters, outreach, and permanent housing.

Why This Matters

Housing more than 400 people is an accomplishment worth recognizing. It also shows why Atlanta cannot solve homelessness only after someone is already sleeping outside.

Preventing an eviction, helping someone through a temporary financial crisis, addressing barriers to affordable housing, and helping households remain stable must be part of the strategy too.

Getting people housed matters. Keeping more people from becoming homeless in the first place matters just as much.

Sources: Atlanta News First: Downtown Rising milestone, Partners for HOME: Atlanta Rising, Urbanize Atlanta: Downtown Rising surpasses its goal