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 caregivers has surged. In Atlanta, around 12,000 grandparents now raise grandchildren full-time. Many live on fixed incomes-relying on Social Security or modest retirement benefits-and with rents rising by 5% in 2023 alone, their budgets are stretched to the breaking point.
These aren’t just numbers. They reflect families caught in ongoing cycles of instability. A recent report found that 65% of grandparent caregivers face housing insecurity. Many are pushed into temporary or unstable living arrangements-staying with relatives, rotating through short-term rentals, or finding temporary solutions that add stress to already challenging circumstances.
The strain goes far beyond housing. Older caregivers often face health issues that make the physical demands of parenting difficult. The responsibilities of childcare-especially when layered on top of chronic illness or mobility limitations-can be exhausting. Holding steady jobs becomes difficult, compounding their financial vulnerability.
The emotional burden is equally profound. Many grandparents step in because of crises like addiction, incarceration, mental illness, or the death of a family member. These aren’t planned transitions. They’re acts of love rooted in trauma-and they affect both grandparents and grandchildren in lasting ways.
Community organizations across Atlanta have stepped up in response. Hope Atlanta and Columbia Residential have forged a meaningful partnership that provides these families with crucial services: eviction prevention, financial counseling, employment support, and tailored mental health resources for intergenerational households.
What sets this model apart is that it doesn’t stop at individual aid. It supports entire communities by embedding services directly into housing developments. This holistic approach recognizes that long-term stability requires more than a roof over one’s head-it requires community, consistency, and trust.
Through this partnership, Hope Atlanta and Columbia Residential are reshaping what supportive housing can look like. They’ve created spaces where vulnerable families-especially grandparents raising grandchildren-can access care, build relationships, and rediscover moments of joy and peace.
“This partnership takes the burden of homelessness off the table,” said Jeffrey Palmer, Director of Place-Based Supportive Services. “It provides an arrangement between two providers with the common goal of housing first for the family in community-based stabilized apartments.”
Instead of delivering services in silos, this partnership weaves support into daily life. From behavioral health resources to wellness check-ins and community gatherings, the model reflects a core belief: true housing stability is built not just on income, but on human connection.
“What we’ve found is that community-based supportive services contribute to keeping families together by creating resources for sustainability,” said Jeffrey Palmer. “It’s something other communities should consider.”
By placing this care inside familiar environments, the model fosters a sense of belonging-something many of these families have lost through years of instability. It’s not just about staying housed. It’s about being part of a community that sees you, supports you, and helps you move forward.
For grandparents navigating the complexities of caregiving later in life, this partnership offers more than relief. It offers a chance to rebuild stability, restore dignity, and reimagine what home can truly mean.
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