On a beat-up, tan couch underneath the Downtown Connector, Xhexania Xander smoked a cigarette. Tucked beneath the overpass, trash piled up around her and on nearly every section of the Bell Street sidewalk. The overflowing homeless encampment near Grady Memorial Hospital, just over a mile from Mercedes-Benz Stadium, had become a public health issue. Xander was among the last people remaining in the camp Friday morning. She's slept in a green tent in the area since late 2025. "I don't have a choice," she said.
By Saturday morning, the tents and trash were mostly gone. Workers in white hazmat suits moved piles of rubbish into trucks. The city of Atlanta cleared the site over two days, part of a larger endeavor to end homelessness in downtown Atlanta ahead of the June start to the FIFA World Cup. The effort, dubbed "Downtown Rising," began in 2024 and aims to secure housing for hundreds of individuals experiencing homelessness.
Cathryn Vassell, CEO of Partners for Home, explained the organization has been reaching out for months to encampment residents, working to move people into permanent housing and shelters. Since January, caseworkers identified eight individuals regularly staying under the bridge — six have moved into permanent housing, with housing pending for the remaining two. Vassell stated the decision "was really less about optics in this instance, and more about the safety of the people" in the surrounding area.
The initiative has attracted criticism from those who question its feasibility or view it as a temporary solution to a chronic regional and national issue. The January 2025 death of Cornelius Taylor, run over by a Department of Public Works front loader during an encampment clearing, raised serious concerns. The city subsequently amended cleanup protocols, introducing thermal imaging technology for tent checks and more judicious use of heavy machinery.
Mayor Andre Dickens' spokesperson described the effort as "part of a sustainable plan with significant financial backing," noting the mayor's commitment of $60 million would extend beyond the single event. The Bell Street clearing marked the year's second encampment cleanup, with a Cooper Street camp expected to be removed next and additional maintenance anticipated at locations like Woodruff Park and Northside Drive.
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution