Atlanta has launched an ambitious $212 million initiative designed to end unsheltered homelessness downtown, with the goal of housing all 400 homeless Atlantans currently living on the streets by the end of 2025. The Downtown Rising project, which began strategic planning in 2021 before Atlanta was announced as a FIFA World Cup host city in June 2022, aims to provide permanent supportive housing solutions including units at the new Cooper Street development in Mechanicsville and other locations across the city.
The initiative represents the city’s most comprehensive effort to address homelessness, with more than 400 permanent supportive housing units already completed across Atlanta and additional units at the WaterWorks affordable housing complex set for completion by the end of 2024. The approach focuses on providing permanent supportive housing, which includes rental assistance, employment services, mental health and substance abuse support, and ongoing case management. City officials have committed that no encampments will be closed until housing solutions have been identified for every homeless individual living there.
Critics question long-term commitment despite expanded scope
Despite the broader scope and earlier planning timeline, some critics remain skeptical about whether the city is genuinely committed to solving homelessness or using the World Cup as motivation for temporary solutions. The concerns stem from experiences with previous city programs and comparisons to displacement strategies used during the 1996 Olympics, when similar relocations occurred without long-term solutions.
Unhoused residents express cautious optimism mixed with skepticism
Members of the homeless community have voiced mixed reactions to the expanded housing initiative. While some appreciate the commitment to providing housing solutions before closing encampments, many residents currently living on the streets remain skeptical about long-term support based on experiences with previous city programs that promised assistance but failed to deliver meaningful support.
However, the scale of the current initiative and the no-displacement commitment have generated cautious optimism among some advocates who see potential for meaningful change if the city follows through on its expanded housing commitments.
Mechanicsville residents fear neighborhood destabilization
The proposed Cooper Street location has generated significant opposition from existing Mechanicsville residents who worry about increased crime and further neighborhood challenges. Community members express concern that concentrating homeless individuals in their area will exacerbate existing problems without providing adequate support services.
Residents argue that their neighborhood already faces numerous difficulties and lacks the infrastructure to accommodate a large influx of new residents with complex needs. The opposition reflects broader tensions about how cities should distribute affordable housing and social services across different neighborhoods.
Partners for HOME emphasizes comprehensive approach and track record
Partners for HOME, the nonprofit organization collaborating with the city on the initiative, has clarified that Cooper Street represents just one component of a broader housing strategy. Chief Executive Officer Cathryn Vassell emphasized that multiple housing projects across the city will contribute to achieving the goal of housing all 400 downtown homeless individuals by the end of 2025.
The organization points to its track record of success, having housed more than 15,000 homeless Atlantans since its inception in 2015, with 96% of those individuals remaining housed today. This data suggests a foundation of effective programming that extends beyond temporary World Cup preparations.
The Cooper Street development, scheduled for completion in January 2026, will provide permanent supportive housing rather than temporary shelter. Partners for HOME emphasizes that the housing solutions being employed have been effective in Atlanta long before and will continue long after the World Cup.
Economic benefits intersect with established social programs
The FIFA World Cup represents a major economic opportunity for Atlanta, with projected benefits including increased tourism revenue, international exposure, and infrastructure investments. However, the revelation that Downtown Rising planning began in 2021, before Atlanta’s World Cup selection, suggests the initiative stems from broader homelessness policy rather than purely economic motivations.
The World Cup has served as what officials describe as “a moment in time that galvanizes parties across Atlanta to come together in support of our unhoused neighbors,” providing additional momentum and resources for existing homelessness programs rather than creating entirely new approaches.
The success of the Downtown Rising initiative will depend on whether it creates lasting solutions for homelessness through its comprehensive permanent supportive housing model. Long-term effectiveness requires sustained commitment to the rental assistance, employment services, mental health care, substance abuse support, and case management that define permanent supportive housing.
