Atlanta’s homeless population rose for the second year in a row, according to just-released results from the city’s winter census.
The number of those living in shelters or outside was close to 2,900, representing a 7% increase from 2023.
The greatest jump was among those who stayed without any shelter outside, with their numbers rising by a third.
At the same time, Cathryn Vassell, director of Partners for Home, the nonprofit that leads the city’s homelessness strategy, noted that roughly 600 emergency beds were available within shelters.
“We were at a very low 67% utilization of emergency shelter this year,” she said.
She attributed that mismatch to differences among shelter rules and a lack of awareness of available resources.
Vassell said a significant portion of those counted in the survey had not used the city’s system of services before. She described them as “first-time homeless.”
Most were from nearby, she said, reporting their last permanent zip code was in the city of Atlanta or in the metro area.
The population estimate for this year is still below the one reported for 2020, just before the pandemic began. Following a surge in federal relief money and housing assistance, the city’s homeless numbers dropped dramatically in 2022 before edging back up.
The federally-required survey takes place each January on a single night across the country. It follows the federal definition of homelessness, which excludes those staying with friends or family.
Even within that limited scope, the city acknowledges the results are an undercount.
