This week the city of Atlanta made history by announcing $60 million in new public funding to address the crisis of the rising number of unhoused, the single largest investment in the city’s history.
Starting with a $50 million Homeless Opportunity Bond and paired with an additional $10 million from Atlanta’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund, these funds will help address the 60% increase in the city’s unsheltered population since the pandemic. The city is also hoping to supplement this with support from philanthropic resources. All told, these new public and private investments to support the homeless are expected to total more than $150M. This incredible investment is making headlines throughout the city and the country as noted in Newsweek.
We’re also excited to announce that the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta has given Partners for Home a $10 million grant to further address the homeless crisis that is taking place.
Through all of these funds, plans are in place to create up to 700 new units of high-quality, deeply affordable housing. This will include up to 200 permanent supportive housing units in newly built or renovated apartment buildings throughout the city, as well as 500 quick-delivery housing units, delivered by the end of 2025. These units will be paired with on-site wraparound services through the city’s Rapid Housing Initiative.
Two upcoming projects are currently underway:
The Waterworks Rapid Housing Project is located near the corner of Northside Drive and 17th, and is expected to break ground first, with state-of-the-art modular construction. The development will include two multi-story buildings that will contain approximately 100 units each. We hope to break ground this fall with residents moving in next year.
The 405 Cooper Rapid Housing Project is located in Mechanicsville. The conceptual design incorporates a mixed-income approach with approximately 70 for-sale townhouses alongside 100 units of permanent supportive housing using the same modular construction as the Waterworks site.
Last year we were able to provide homes for more than 2,500 unhoused Atlantans, with 800 of those individuals previously living under bridges or in other encampments, and we continue to strive to house more. In that effort, Partners for Home is furthering our ambitions with a goal to raise another $43 million dollars to address this housing crisis and provide not only a homes but better future for our fellow citizens.
We’re grateful for the city to make this incredible commitment to address the unhoused and as Cathryn noted, “I’ve never seen an administration like this one – moving at the speed of light to unlock and dismantle every barrier in our way.”
