Is There Space for Atlanta's Homeless on Super Bowl Sunday?

The city of Atlanta pledged to clear the city's homeless encampments before the Super Bowl.

1 minute read

February 3, 2019, 7:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Atlanta, Georgia

Felix Mizioznikov / Shutterstock

Rumors and uncertainties are swirling around the homeless communities of Atlanta as the city prepares for the Super Bowl today, according to an article by Stephannie Stokes.

There's a church that holds services for homeless people in Woodruff Park that isn't sure if they can hold services. There are rumors that homeless people caught under bridges will go to jail.

And some of the rumors are true. "Just two weeks before the Super Bowl, the city held a press call and said it would work to clear encampments," reports Stokes.

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has stated that the action "has absolutely nothing to with the Super Bowl."

"Instead, the city has said clearing encampments is about public health and safety — consider, for example, the risks of lighting fires under interstates," according to Stokes. Homeless advocates and officials for support services around the city say the practice of clearing encampments contradicts Atlanta's usual approach to housing policy, however.

Wednesday, January 30, 2019 in WABE

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