Homelessness in the Atlanta metropolitan area affects thousands of individuals and families every year. Fortunately, the Atlanta metropolitan area offers an extensive network of resources for people experiencing homelessness, including emergency shelters, transitional housing, rehousing programs, and specialized services for families, veterans, women, and youth. Among the leading providers are the Salvation Army’s Red Shield Shelter, Atlanta Mission facilities, and community organizations such as City of Refuge and Nicholas House.
Atlanta Metro Area Homeless Resources
Immediate Crisis & Assessment Hotlines
City of Atlanta Housing Assistance: Dial 3-1-1 (Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.) if you are currently located within city limits.
Metro Atlanta Area Referrals: Dial 2-1-1 or text “211” to 898-211 to access the United Way 211 Atlanta database, which offers emergency assistance for housing, food, and utilities.
Statewide “Balance of State” Hotline: Call 1-844-249-8367 or email HomelessInfo@dca.ga.gov to access the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Coordinated Entry System outside of the main urban core.
24-Hour Domestic Violence Hotline: Call 1-800-334-2836 or 1-800-799-SAFE for immediate, confidential shelter in crisis situations.
Major Multi-Service Centers and Shelters (City of Atlanta)
Gateway Center
The Gateway Center serves as the central hub and Coordinated Entry System access point for services for people experiencing homelessness, as well as for emergency shelter placement, in downtown Atlanta. If you are seeking immediate shelter or housing placement, you must go to the main building located at 275 Pryor St SW. In-person registration for housing assessments begins daily at 7:00 a.m., Monday through Friday, and official intake services operate from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Intake and Housing Process
Coordinated Entry System Registration: Arrive before 7:00 a.m. at 275 Pryor St SW. Evaluators use the standardized VI-SPDAT vulnerability assessment tool to rank applicants on the City of Atlanta’s housing waitlist.
Afternoon Slots: If you are unable to register during the morning, you may check back at 1:00 p.m. to see if any slots remain available for afternoon assessments.
Residential Placement: To access the 352 beds available through the specialized programs Gateway offers at its own facilities (including the Upward Addiction Recovery, New Beginnings, and Veterans programs), you must first complete a 2-to-4-week assessment phase.
Program Requirements: Admission to residential housing programs requires the motivation to work toward self-sufficiency, potential for employment, and a negative result on a tuberculosis (TB) test administered within the last 60 days. On-Site Client Services Center (Day Services)
Non-residents may access basic daily stability services on the main campus during the following hours:
Men’s Showers: Daily, from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and from 7:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.
Women’s Showers: Daily, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Clothing Closet: Monday through Thursday, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (limited to the first 30 people).
Phone Charging: Available daily, from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
DFCS (Food Stamps/SNAP): In-person assistance is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. m., solely by derivation.
Red Shield Services
The Salvation Army’s Red Shield Services operates a multi-program emergency and transitional housing facility located at 469 Marietta St NW in downtown Atlanta. The facility provides shelter, meals, and case management for up to 324 single men, single women, veterans, and families. Since specific placement guidelines depend on your demographic profile and needs, admission requires following distinct intake pathways, which are detailed below.
Emergency and Temporary Housing Programs
Emergency Assessment Program: Offers single men and women a 30-day emergency stay (available once every 12 months). To qualify, you must present a valid form of identification.
Emergency Support Program for Families: Allows nuclear families or single parents with documented legal custody of their children to stay for a period of up to 60 days. The shelter features 22 private rooms exclusively for families, designed specifically to keep families together regardless of their composition. Presentation of identification for the head of household and proof of custody is mandatory.
Emergency Support Program: An extended-stay pathway of 90 days for individuals who are actively employed or who have verified financial sponsorship. Requires the presentation of two valid forms of identification.
Cold Weather Program: Automatically activates as an emergency shelter to provide refuge from the cold on nights when local temperatures drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (approx. 4°C). This service is open to individuals who are not visibly intoxicated.
Day Services and Financial Assistance Centers
Community Food Pantry: Operates Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., out of the main Marietta Street complex, distributing emergency groceries and non-perishable goods.
Financial Assistance and Eviction Prevention Center: To receive assistance with emergency rent payments, utility shut-off notices, or furniture vouchers, you must schedule an appointment through The Salvation Army’s Emergency Financial Services Center by calling 404-486-2888 or by completing the intake form on The Salvation Army’s Assistance Portal.
Atlanta Mission
Atlanta Mission operates a network of specialized emergency shelters, long-term recovery campuses, and transitional housing facilities throughout the greater Atlanta area. Unlike a single general shelter, Atlanta Mission strictly categorizes its intake pathways based on gender, family status, and the type of service required. For immediate intake, men must proceed to The Shepherd’s Inn, while single women, pregnant women, and mothers with children must go through the Restoration House assessment center.
Emergency Shelter and Programs for Men (The Shepherd’s Inn)
The central facility, located downtown at 165 Ivan Allen Jr Blvd NW, serves up to 450 single men daily, providing them with hot meals, beds, and stabilization services.
Intake and Preliminary Assessment: In-person intake interviews are conducted Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. You must register at the designated entrance on Mills Street.
Arrival Times: It is strongly recommended to line up before 7:30 a.m., as emergency beds are allocated daily based on available capacity and a vulnerability assessment.
Direct Contact: Call The Shepherd’s Inn hotline at 404-367-2493 to check daily vacancy status.
Emergency Intake for Women and Children (Restoration House)
All women, pregnant women, and families seeking shelter with Atlanta Mission must first go through the centralized physical assessment point at Restoration House, located at 655 Ethel St NW.
Intake Hours: In-person eligibility assessments are conducted Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Placement for the Next Step: Upon successfully completing the crisis assessment at Restoration House, clients are placed at My Sister’s House (921 Howell Mill Rd NW), which offers safe overnight shelter and comprehensive 90-day programs focused on goal-setting.
Age Restrictions for Children: My Sister’s House welcomes mothers with children; however, they cannot accommodate boys over the age of 11 in the shared dormitory areas.
Direct Contact: Contact the centralized intake center for women in crisis at 404-588-4007.
Covenant House Georgia
Covenant House Georgia (CHGA) offers 24/7 sanctuary, crisis stabilization, and supportive housing—exclusively for young people aged 16 to 24 who are experiencing homelessness or fleeing human trafficking. The main campus operates entirely free of charge, requires no official agency referrals, and maintains an open-door policy at its primary facility, located at 1559 Johnson Rd NW. Walk-in emergency care and intake lines are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Immediate Crisis Shelter and Basic Housing Options
Emergency Crisis Shelter: The P.J. Garcia Youth Shelter offers a safe home for up to 60 young people. Residents at the facility immediately receive hot meals, clean clothing, private showers, comprehensive case management, and complete physical and mental health care.
Rights of Passage (ROP): A highly structured, long-term transitional housing program designed for young people who are ready to transition out of emergency shelter. Residents may stay for up to 18 months while learning life skills, building financial literacy, saving money, and maintaining full-time employment or education.
Support for Pregnant and Parenting Youth: CHGA welcomes and provides housing for pregnant teens, young mothers, and their babies. Staff offer specialized parenting instruction, along with basic baby supplies, formula, and referrals for pediatric care.
Safe Space Guarantee: The entire campus is explicitly designed as a safe, fully inclusive, and trauma-informed space for LGBTQ+ youth.
Hope Atlanta
HOPE Atlanta offers comprehensive eviction prevention, rapid rehousing, and street-based community outreach services, serving 15 counties across the greater Atlanta area. Rather than operating a direct-entry emergency overnight shelter, the organization focuses on placement in permanent housing and financial stabilization. Its main administrative and admissions headquarters is located at 458 Ponce De Leon Ave NE.
Housing and Financial Programs
Eviction Prevention: Provides emergency financial assistance for past-due rent and utility payments to individuals who hold an active lease and are facing an imminent eviction notice.
Rapid Rehousing: Assists individuals and families currently staying in emergency shelters or places not intended for human habitation by funding security deposits, first month’s rent, and moving costs.
Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF): A specialized program offering expedited housing placement, legal assistance, and temporary financial aid, exclusively for eligible veterans and their families.
Permanent Supportive Housing: Long-term housing vouchers linked to intensive, ongoing case management, intended for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness who have documented physical or mental disabilities.
County-Specific Homeless Resources
DeKalb County
Assistance for rent, utilities, and housing stabilization is channeled through the Housing Authority of DeKalb County (HADC) and the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS). Local non-profit partners include Intown Collaborative Ministries (1026 Ponce De Leon Ave NE) and Decatur Cooperative Ministry.
Gwinnett County
Rehousing resources are supported by The Salvation Army’s “Home Sweet Home Gwinnett” program and the Gwinnett Salvation Army Financial Assistance Helpline (770-724-1660).
Fulton County (North and South)
Residents of South Fulton can access local assistance through the Zion Hill Community Development Corporation (404-766-3141). Residents of North Fulton may contact North Fulton Community Charities (770-640-0399) for assistance with rent and utilities.
Cobb County
Emergency family stabilization and follow-up support through the local rental assistance network receive strong backing from the Family Promise of Cobb County network.
