Tackling Homelessness in Atlanta

Like many cities across the United States, Atlanta is facing a growing homelessness crisis, driven largely by soaring rental costs that far outpace stagnant wages. The lack of affordable housing is a national crisis, and we must commit to building solutions that are affordable, replicable, and sustainable. 

Raphael Holloway, affectionately known by his family and friends as “Ra,” is at the forefront of the battle against homelessness in Atlanta. Born in Toledo, Ohio,. Raphael attended Bowling Green State University (BGSU), where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Child and Family Community Services in the Fall of 1996. He knew from a very young age that he wanted to work in a profession where he could have a positive impact on the lives of others.

In the spring of 1999, he decided to return to BGSU to complete his Master of Arts degree in Mental Health Counseling and became a Licensed Professional Counselor. His first job was with AID Atlanta, a nonprofit AIDS service organization. There, he served as a case manager working with individuals experiencing homelessness, living with HIV, battling substance abuse, and navigating mental health challenges. He was based at a community satellite office in the Old Fourth Ward, near the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church and the King Center. “Working in that environment taught me not only about the people we served but also about the rich history of Atlanta.”

In 2016, Ra assumed his current role as Chief Executive Officer of Gateway Center, a leading social services agency. Gateway Center not only provides short-term residential services but also a broad continuum of care to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The services include outreach, coordinated entry and assessment, medical and behavioral health support, substance use recovery, workforce development, and financial literacy. Gateway Center serves over 9,000 individuals annually—1,000 of whom are supported in their residential programs, which offer 500 beds of short-term housing.

Ra still has his work cut out for him. These facts and figures, reported by partnersforhome.org/pit-count, further illuminate the extent of the crisis.

• 2,867 homeless individuals were recorded in the 2024 Point‑in‑Time (PIT) count in Atlanta—a 7% increase from 2023. This includes 1,040 unsheltered people and 1,827 in shelters or transitional housing.

• In the metro area (Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell), a worker needs to earn $22.44 per hour (≈ $46,680/year) to afford a modest two‑bedroom rental without spending more than 30% of their income—3.1× the Georgia minimum wage of $7.25/hour .

• Average rent in Atlanta is around $1,349/month, and 46.7% of renter households are cost‑burdened (spending over 30% of their income on housing) .

• Nationally, 46% of renters are cost‑burdened, and 23% are severely cost‑burdened (spending >50% of income on housing) .

Anyone can become homeless at any time. Who are the people currently experiencing homelessness? 

• 25% of homeless people are women and girls 

• 35% are over the age of 55

• 48% of adults have a serious mental illness

• 40% have a substance abuse disorder

• 67% of the respondents reported having a disability

• 37% of those individuals are currently receiving treatment for their reported conditions

National housing and homelessness trends only exacerbate the problem. The U.S. has a shortage of 7.1 million affordable rental homes available to renters with extremely low incomes.

Rental prices have risen far faster than wages for decades, and the gap has widened post‑pandemic. The 2024 “Housing Wage” (the hourly wage needed to rent a modest 2‑bedroom home) is $32.11/hr, nearly 4.4 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage; for a one‑bedroom it’s $26.74/hr.

Nearly half of all renter households spend over 30% of their income on housing; over 12 million spend more than 50% .

Research from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) demonstrates a relationship between rising rents and homelessness. The study found that a $100 increase in median rent was associated with a 9% increase in the estimated homelessness rate.

The data underscores the urgent need for solutions that are affordable, scalable, and sustainable—from expanding housing stock to boosting tenants’ incomes and safety nets.

In Atlanta, the homelessness crisis is compounded by one of the highest racial wealth gaps in the country, with White households possessing 46 times more wealth than Black households. This disparity is rooted in generations of systemic and structural racism. 

At Gateway Center, Raphael and his staff are not only providing direct services but also pursuing upstream interventions, advocating for systemic change, and elevating the voices of those most impacted.

Raphael is paving the way to end homelessness in Atlanta. It will take time, tenacity, and additional financial resources. In the meantime, he is making a difference in his community by changing the lives of others daily. He has a true blueprint that other cities should benchmark and follow.  

As for the future, he doesn't know exactly what it holds—but he knows he's been extremely blessed. He’s had the honor of serving others, contributing to meaningful change, and forming deep connections along the way. He credits growing up in Toledo as shaping his purpose, and the city remains a foundational part of who he is. He is grateful for the lessons he learned in Toledo and how they prepared him for the work he does today. He looks forward to what God has planned for the next chapter of his life.