A woman offers a homeless man food. Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Atlanta is partnering with the federal government and community partners to help those experiencing chronic homelessness by building 550 permanent supportive housing units.

“The fight to end homelessness cannot be won by any one organization or entity. We are committed to building sustainable public-private partnerships that can impact the lives of Atlantans across all sectors” Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said in a statement. “While the City has made good progress, continued investments in long-term developments are essential to ensure homelessness in Atlanta is brief and nonrecurring.”

The initiative is made possible through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s HomeFirst initiative, which builds on the $50 million investment unveiled in 2017, according to program materials. The initiative focuses on assisting homeless individuals through permanent placement and project-based rental subsidies. Additionally, the grant funds support services including behavioral health, skill development and social connectivity.

“The incidence of homelessness in Atlanta is finally declining, and we are committed to continuing our efforts not only to get people off the streets, but to also provide the services they need to thrive,” Brandon Riddick-Seals, interim president and CEO of Atlanta Housing, one of the community partners involved in the initiative, said in a statement. “Mayor Bottoms is blazing trails with respect to promoting public-private collaborations to address this issue in our community, and Atlanta Housing is excited to partner in this initiative and support those with the most urgent needs.”

For eligibility standards and development requirements, please visit the Partners for Home website.