June 19, 2025
The plan has acquired opposition from residents and skepticism from the unhoused neighborhood.
Town of Atlanta plans to relocate homeless folks earlier than the town hosts eight matches of the FIFA World Cup in June 2026.
A $212 million growth seems to rehouse a whole bunch of unhoused residents. Metropolis officers are naming the plan “Downtown Rising,” Fox 5 experiences. The inexpensive housing growth, positioned on Cooper Avenue in Mechanicsville, broke floor on June 13.
The World Cup will certainly present an financial enhance for the town and preparation for the occasion is nicely underway. The elimination of the unhoused folks from avenue encampments is claimed to be a type of preparations
An unhoused particular person advised the outlet, “They’re placing a Band-Assist on it. And as soon as the World Cup is gone, I can’t predict what’s going to occur, however I form of suspect it’s going to go in the identical mode.”
The “similar mode” is in reference to the displacement of Atlanta’s homeless inhabitants in preparation for the 1996 Olympics.
Keashaon Sullivan, a newly unhoused girl, stated, “I don’t know the way severe they’re in helping as a result of they are saying, ‘Somebody’s popping out that can assist you,’ however nobody comes out to assist us. ”We’re out right here by tornadoes, by hail, by wind.”
The neighborhood of Mechanicsville can be involved with the placement of the brand new growth. Many locally object to the event. Equally, fear about elevated crime in an already struggling space has spurred considerations.
Companions for House, the non-profit group working with the town of Atlanta, advised Fox 5 that not all of the properties will likely be prepared earlier than the World Cup, however is working towards getting residents prepared for the transition.
“Our sole objective and focus is round getting folks assessed, document-ready, after which moved into everlasting housing,” stated the group’s CEO, Cathryn Vassell.
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