On Thursday, September 18, city leaders, corporate partners, and community advocates gathered at Coca-Cola headquarters for a focused update on homelessness in Atlanta. Hosted by Coca-Cola and Partners for HOME, the event underscored the urgency of the issue while celebrating the progress of the Atlanta Rising campaign.
Mayor Andre Dickens joined the discussion, thanking partners for their leadership and stressing that Atlanta is treating homelessness not just as a challenge to solve, but as a human issue that requires compassion and action.
Key takeaways from the meeting included:
- The city is on track to deliver 500 rapid housing units by the end of 2025, the largest expansion in Atlanta’s history.
- Housing first, not housing only: supportive services such as case management, medical and mental health care, and addiction recovery will accompany housing.
- Projects like The Melody proved that Atlanta can move quickly and creatively to meet urgent needs.
- Corporate partners—including Southern Company, Cisco, and Coca-Cola—are stepping up, with a call for more leaders to join.
“This investment is like moving from a two-lane road to an interstate,” Dickens told attendees. “It allows us to reach more people, faster—and with the dignity and support every Atlantan deserves.”
As the campaign moves forward, Mayor Dickens emphasized that Atlanta is at its best when it acts together. The Atlanta Rising effort reflects a belief that every resident deserves dignity, stability, and opportunity—and that the entire community has a role to play.
Learn more about the campaign and how to support it at partnersforhome.org.
