Current:Home > InvestTransitional housing complex opens in Atlanta, cities fight rise in homelessness-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Transitional housing complex opens in Atlanta, cities fight rise in homelessness
View Date:2024-12-23 19:05:42
The Melody, a transitional living community, opened in Atlanta Friday, adding 40 temporary homes on the site of a former city parking lot.
The community, located at 184 Forsythe Street, provides access to public transit and is near wrap around services such as medical care and educational opportunities, according to a press release announcing the project.
The community was named after Melody Bloodsworth, an unhoused person who suffered from mental and physical illness as well as addiction issues — according to Cathryn Vassell, CEO of Partners for HOME.
"We couldn't find the right housing solution for Melody... she wound up leaving [a placement in Gwinnett County] and soon after passed away on the street," Vassell told 11 Alive.
The complex consists of units that were formerly portable COVID- 19 Intensive Care Units donated by the Georgia Emergency Managment Agency, according to the press release.
Homelessness rises, cities fight back
Homelessness shot up by more than 12% in 2023, reaching 653,104 people.
The numbers represent the sharpest increase and largest unhoused population since the federal government began tallying totals in 2007, according to the U.S. Department of Urban Planning and Development.
Last year, federal data showed 582,462 people experienced homelessness.
Some cities have utilized federal funds and implemented programs to divert people from the street.
Chattanooga, Tennessee, saw more than a 30% drop in unsheltered homelessness in 2023 after officials used American Rescue Plan money to pay people's rents and axed a lottery process the county had used for housing vouchers.
In Philadelphia, the city's eviction diversion program helped a majority of participating landlords and tenants avoid evictions by mediating any landlord-tenant disputes without taking cases to court.
The Melody project was funded by an executive order from Mayor Andre Dickens as a part of the city's "Rapid Housing Program," which aims to add 500 units like the ones at "The Melody," by 2025.
veryGood! (55)
Related
- November 2024 full moon this week is a super moon and the beaver moon
- NCAA's new proposal could help ensure its survival if Congress gets on board
- Super Bowl LVIII: Nickelodeon to air a kid-friendly, SpongeBob version of the big game
- Voting experts warn of ‘serious threats’ for 2024 from election equipment software breaches
- NY forest ranger dies fighting fires as air quality warnings are issued in New York and New Jersey
- NFL power rankings Week 14: Several contenders clawing for No. 2 spot
- Angelina Jolie Reveals Plans to Leave Hollywood Due to Aftermath of Her Divorce
- Scientists say November is 6th straight month to set heat record; 2023 a cinch as hottest year
- Why Game of Thrones' Maisie Williams May Be Rejoining the George R.R. Martin Universe
- Endangered red squirrel’s numbers show decrease this year in southeastern Arizona
Ranking
- Early Week 11 fantasy football rankings: 30 risers and fallers
- Peruvian constitutional court orders release of former President Alberto Fujimori
- Argentina’s President-elect Milei replies to Musk’s interest: ‘We need to talk, Elon’
- FBI chief makes fresh pitch for spy program renewal and says it’d be ‘devastating’ if it lapsed
- Unexpected pairing: New documentary tells a heartwarming story between Vietnam enemies
- Where did all the veterinarians go? Shortage in Kentucky impacts pet owners and farmers
- Trump’s defense at civil fraud trial zooms in on Mar-a-Lago, with broker calling it ‘breathtaking’
- Maduro orders the ‘immediate’ exploitation of oil, gas and mines in Guyana’s Essequibo
Recommendation
-
Could trad wives, influencers have sparked the red wave among female voters?
-
Hamas officials join Nelson Mandela’s family at ceremony marking 10th anniversary of his death
-
Ex-Alaska Airlines pilot accused of trying to cut plane’s engines indicted on endangerment charges
-
Family sues Panera, saying its caffeinated lemonade led to Florida man’s cardiac arrest
-
Minnesota county to pay $3.4M to end lawsuit over detainee’s death
-
Margot Robbie tells Cillian Murphy an 'Oppenheimer' producer asked her to move 'Barbie' release
-
'Little House on the Prairie' star Melissa Gilbert on why she ditched Botox, embraced aging
-
Jacky Oh's Partner DC Young Fly Shares Their Kids' Moving Message 6 Months After Her Death