In Atlanta, homelessness is increasingly infiltrating spaces once viewed as stable, affecting families working full-time, grandparents raising grandchildren, and individuals burdened by medical debt. The pressures of these realities are pushing many into housing instability at alarming rates. For a growing number, homelessness is not just a possibility; it’s a daily lived experience.
This article marks the beginning of a three-part series exploring the shifting demographics of homelessness in Atlanta. As we observe this dramatic change, the series aims to unveil the new faces of homelessness and educate the public about the systemic barriers contributing to housing instability. Critical factors such as the gig economy, grandparents raising grandchildren, and medical debt are all exacerbating this situation.
The gig economy has transformed the work landscape, offering promises of flexibility and independence. In Atlanta, gig work opportunities like rideshare driving, food delivery, and freelancing have grown to be vital income sources for many. However, this apparent freedom often masks profound financial instability.
In 2023, rent prices in Atlanta increased by 5%, posing further challenges for gig workers striving to meet basic needs. Unlike traditional employees with steady income and benefits, gig workers experience inconsistent earnings, and they lack paid leave or health insurance, rendering them more vulnerable to housing instability.
Many workers in the gig economy are living paycheck to paycheck. A single missed shift, car trouble, or illness can quickly lead to missed rent payments, resulting in housing insecurity.
To address these challenges, programs like the One Small Thing Grant—a partnership between Hope Atlanta and United Way—are working to repair the often-overlooked cracks in the housing safety net. This initiative is aimed at individuals and families who, while typically self-sufficient, are at risk of falling into crisis due to short-term setbacks. The grant offers up to $2,000 to cover essential expenses such as first month’s rent, utility deposits, car repairs, or work certification fees that could otherwise destabilize their housing situation.
“The One Small Thing Grant Program was launched to support individuals and families who may not qualify for traditional housing aid but are still one unexpected expense away from crisis,” said Monyca Dawson, senior director of programs at Hope Atlanta. “Without assistance, these obstacles can threaten housing or delay economic mobility. This program helps bridge those gaps so people can remain housed and employed.”
In a housing landscape increasingly defined by narrow margins, the impact of this grant has been both immediate and profoundly personal. “We’re seeing real change for people who often fall through the cracks,” Dawson adds. “They’re working, managing their lives, but living paycheck to paycheck. One small expense—a blown tire, a medical bill—can unravel everything. This grant offers a critical buffer, giving people a chance to recover quickly and keep the stability they’ve worked so hard to build.”
Though modest in scale, the One Small Thing Grant plays an outsized role in addressing this pressing issue. It serves not as a permanent solution but as a necessary pause button—providing just enough support to prevent a minor setback from spiraling into a crisis. In a city where housing insecurity often hides in plain sight, sometimes it doesn’t take sweeping systemic change. Sometimes, it just takes one small thing.
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