Author Archives: Hope Atlanta

If a tap breaks, we don’t stand by as water floods the floor—we turn it off at the source. Yet when it comes to homelessness, our systems often do the opposite: we focus almost entirely on emergency response after the flood has already occurred. Shelters, emergency rooms, and law enforcement are essential, but they are […]

According to the National Center for Homeless Education, children experiencing homelessness are 87% more likely to drop out of school than their housed peers. And for the students who do stay in school, the impacts are still profound: research shows that they are more likely to struggle with attendance, concentration, behavioral health, and academic performance. […]

Why Hope Atlanta Is Investing in Place-Based Strategy Neighborhoods shape everything—from housing access and job opportunities to mental health outcomes and generational wealth. In fact, a person’s ZIP code is one of the strongest predictors of their health—even more than their genetic code. That’s why Hope Atlanta has adopted a Place-Based Strategy that aligns housing, […]

You may have noticed it, too.The person outside your grocery store. Sleeping in a car in your office lot. Sitting quietly at your train station. Homelessness in Atlanta is no longer confined to downtown. It’s more visible—and more varied—than ever. One of the biggest misconceptions about homelessness is that it’s mostly caused by mental illness […]

As homelessness becomes more visible—and more complex—in communities across Atlanta, Hope Atlanta’s Summer 2025 Field Report offers a powerful window into both the challenges and the solutions. With family homelessness up 14% and chronic homelessness down 9%, the 2025 Point-in-Time Count reflects a shifting landscape—and a need for adaptive, data-driven responses. Hope Atlanta’s Field Report highlights how […]

Across the country, family homelessness is rising at an alarming rate. In 2024 alone, the number of people in families with children experiencing homelessness surged by 39%—the largest increase of any demographic group. Here in Atlanta, the number of families experiencing homelessness rose by 14%, even as chronic homelessness declined. These aren’t just numbers—they’re mothers […]

When you think of someone experiencing homelessness, what image comes to mind? For many, the answer is shaped by decades of media portrayals, political rhetoric, and public myths—images of tents under bridges, untreated mental illness, and individuals who appear to have “given up.” But these ideas are not only incomplete—they’re dangerous. They fuel stigma, reinforce […]

By Kala Farrare, LCSW-C, LCSW, Sr. Director of Clinical Operations At Hope Atlanta, we are building a behavioral health program rooted in the realities of homelessness, where safety, stability, and trust must come first. Traditional outpatient models assume a baseline of security. But for someone living on the streets or in survival mode, behavioral health […]

Homelessness is more than just a housing issue—it’s a public health crisis affecting communities across North America and around the world. Mental health struggles and substance use can put people at greater risk of losing their homes, and once someone becomes homeless, the stress and trauma of that experience often make these challenges even worse. […]

When most Atlantans think of MARTA, they think of movement: trains, buses, the daily flow of a bustling city. But for those without a place to call home, MARTA is often the last place of shelter when every other option has disappeared. Recognizing this sobering reality, Hope Atlanta and MARTA forged an innovative partnership—MARTA HOPE—to […]

Across Atlanta, there’s a silent crisis pushing thousands closer to homelessness: medical debt. For many residents, the financial strain from one health emergency can quickly become overwhelming. In a city where affordable housing is increasingly hard to find, medical debt has quietly become a powerful force, driving families toward eviction. Nationally, this crisis is huge. […]

Across Atlanta, an invisible crisis is quietly reshaping family life. Grandparents, once planning for retirement, are stepping back into parenting to raise their grandchildren. It’s a hidden chapter of the housing crisis that rarely makes headlines, but it’s quietly transforming lives across the city. Over the past decade, the number of grandparents serving as primary […]

In Atlanta, homelessness is no longer confined to the streets. It’s creeping into places where stability once seemed certain. Families working full-time, grandparents raising grandchildren, and individuals drowning in medical debt are all facing the looming threat of losing the roof over their heads. These pressures, stacked upon one another, are tipping people into housing […]

If there’s one thing we’ve learned in our first year at The Melody, it’s this: lasting change only happens when you treat the whole person. If you only provide housing without mental health support, the housing won’t last. And if you only offer mental health care without housing, it’s nearly impossible for someone to heal. […]

Homelessness is no longer confined to downtown streets. It’s in grocery store parking lots, hotel rooms, and the backseats of cars. Today’s unhoused neighbors are working families, students, veterans, and individuals who’ve experienced just one unexpected setback. Atlanta’s affordable housing crisis—compounded by systemic failures and a shortage of 70,000 affordable homes—has left thousands teetering on […]

Homelessness isn’t just a humanitarian issue; it’s an economic one. When people lose housing, businesses lose employees, healthcare costs rise, and public services are strained. The cost of inaction is high, but investing in housing strengthens Atlanta’s economy. At Hope Atlanta, we see this firsthand every day. It’s the father working two jobs who still […]

Nonprofits working to end homelessness face an uphill battle every day. Even in the best of times, the road to stable housing is filled with obstacles—rising housing costs, limited funding, and growing demand for services. Now, with the looming threat of a government shutdown, the challenge is even greater. For thousands of Atlantans who rely […]

For 125 years, Hope Atlanta has been a beacon of support for our neighbors in need, including those experiencing homelessness. While housing-first strategies are often debated in policy circles, the true measure of their success lies in the lives they transform. But let’s be clear—housing-first is not just about putting people into homes. It’s about […]

By Julio Carrillo, CEO of Hope Atlanta  What Happens If the Safety Net Disappears? For decades, I’ve dedicated my career to leading and strengthening nonprofit organizations. I’ve seen firsthand what happens when mission-driven organizations are financially vulnerable—when they lack the resources to pivot in a crisis, the reserves to withstand funding shifts, or the independence […]