Last month, the City of Atlanta took a meaningful step forward by closing the Old Wheat Street encampment, not as a mere cleanup, but as part of a broader, compassionate strategy shaped by the City’s 90‑Day Homelessness Task Force. This was about lifting up neighbors, not just clearing a site.
Over three months of thoughtful outreach, teams from Restoring One’s Hope of Atlanta and InTown Cares met with each resident, connecting them to housing options, transportation, and critical resources. Many transitioned to Welcome House, where they received transitional or long-term housing along with wraparound services and personalized support. At Welcome House, residents are paired with a dedicated case manager and life skills coaching, and they also have access to free laundry services and a food pantry—practical supports that make the transition more stable and dignified. Signs had been posted for more than two weeks, ensuring residents had time to prepare.
The Task Force—bringing together more than 30 nonprofit, advocacy, and government partners—crafted a new model for responding to encampments. Their recommendations centered on trauma-informed outreach, housing-first strategies, robust safety protocols (like thermal sweeps and visual tagging), and a five-day monitoring period after closure to prevent re-encampment.
This effort illustrates how the City and its partners are redefining homelessness policy—partnering with care, not coercion, and giving residents pathways forward while respecting their dignity.
Want to explore the details? You can read the full 90-Day Homelessness Task Force report here: https://www.atlantaga.gov/government/mayor-s-office/the-mayor-s-cabinet/city-of-atlanta-90-day-homelessness-task-force
