Atlanta's Urgent Mission: Finding Homes for 400 Homeless Before the World Cup

Allen Hall described the experience of boarding a bus with over 20 former residents of an Atlanta homeless encampment as “deeply emotional.” Earlier this year, a friend of his was tragically killed when a bulldozer struck his tent.Though the city secured housing for all noted residents of the downtown encampment by mid-July, Hall and seven others were temporarily placed in a hotel funded by advocacy groups. “Change was genuinely happening for us,” he reflected, recalling the significance of friends finally moving into apartments after years on the streets.In a bid to address the rising homeless population, Atlanta aims to house approximately 400 individuals before the World Cup games next summer. However, challenges persist, including extensive waitlists and the complexities of accurately counting residents in encampments.Tensions escalated following the death of Cornelius Taylor, prompting a temporary halt on evacuations from encampments amid mounting community outrage. Advocates continue to urge city officials for expedited, comprehensive housing solutions.

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