Last month,ย 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 Cityโs 90โDay Homelessness Task Force. This was about lifting up neighbors, not just clearing a site.
Over three months of thoughtful outreach, teams from Restoring Oneโs 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. Signs had been posted for more than two weeks, ensuring residents had time to prepare.
The Task Forceโbringing together more than 30 nonprofit, advocacy, and government partnersโcrafted 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 policyโpartnering 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:ย https://www.atlantaga.gov/government/mayor-s-office/the-mayor-s-cabinet/city-of-atlanta-90-day-homelessness-task-force