With GA Senate Bill 62 (SB 62) in full effect, Mayor Andre Dickens initiated a significant operation to clear homeless encampments located under various bridges.
The operation began on February 26, 2024, with personnel from the Atlanta Police Department, the Georgia Department of Transportation, and outreach workers collaborating to dismantle encampments. The first targeted area was near Cheshire Bridge Road and I-85, where several fires had previously compromised bridge safety and led to road closures.
Temporary Shelter Arrangements
As part of this operation, the city offered temporary shelter to those displaced by the clearing efforts. The former athletic club at Atlanta Medical Center was repurposed into a temporary shelter capable of accommodating up to 200 unhoused individuals. This facility had been vacant since Wellstar Health System closed the hospital in November 2022. Individuals relocated from encampments were provided with basic necessities, including cell phones for communication with housing navigators who would assist them in finding permanent housing solutions.
We will keep you updated on the housing progress.
Author: Ericka Cameron-Carr
Sources
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