Atlanta Partnership Provides Modular Housing for Homeless

Innovative public-private initiative aims to house 400 unsheltered individuals in downtown Atlanta.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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A public-private partnership called the Atlanta Rising Project, together with the non-profit Partners for HOME, is building modular apartment units to quickly house and support hundreds of people experiencing homelessness in downtown Atlanta. The project is cutting years off the typical production timeline by constructing the units in a factory and then installing them on city-owned land. The new housing is already transforming lives, with formerly homeless residents like Beadie expressing joy at having their own homes, refrigerators, and beds.

Why it matters

Homelessness remains a persistent challenge in many urban areas, with thousands of unsheltered individuals on the streets. This innovative modular housing approach aims to rapidly scale up the availability of supportive housing, which research shows is crucial for helping people experiencing homelessness rebuild their lives. The project demonstrates how public-private partnerships can leverage new construction methods to address this pressing social issue.

The details

The Atlanta Rising Project is building two sets of modular apartment complexes in the city. The first, called the WaterWorks, has 100 residents who previously experienced homelessness, with 30 units designed for those with medical needs. A second 112-unit complex on Cooper Street is set to open in April. More than $200 million is being raised to fund the overall effort, which is being led by the non-profit Partners for HOME. This organization has already housed over 15,000 unsheltered individuals in Atlanta with a 96% retention rate.

  • The WaterWorks Atlanta Rising Project is currently housing 100 formerly homeless residents.
  • The second 112-unit modular apartment complex on Cooper Street is scheduled to open in April.

The players

Atlanta Rising Project

A public-private partnership working to rapidly build modular housing units to address homelessness in downtown Atlanta.

Partners for HOME

A non-profit organization leading the housing efforts and responsible for housing over 15,000 unsheltered individuals in Atlanta with a 96% retention rate.

Beadie

A formerly homeless resident who now has her own modular apartment unit and is rebuilding her life.

Cathryn Vassell

The Chief Executive of Partners for HOME, overseeing the goal of rehousing 400 unsheltered individuals in downtown Atlanta.

Jack Hardin

An Atlanta attorney who has spearheaded the development of the Gateway Center and is a driving force in raising funds for the Atlanta Rising Project.

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What they’re saying

“That was the most exciting time in my life, my own place. It's mine and it seemed like a dream.”

— Beadie

“Oh man! Its a feeling. It is just a feeling, I mean, I can't explain. It's mine! My own refrigerator. My own bed. It's my place!”

— Beadie

“Our goal with downtown rising is to rehouse 400 people who are unsheltered in the downtown area and end unsheltered homelessness in downtown. we are on track to hit the 400 goal by this month.”

— Cathryn Vassell, Partners for HOME Chief Executive

“There is an enormous shortage of housing and that is the cause of homelessness and that shortage impacts our emergency response system because we have to get people into housing.”

— Jack Hardin, Atlanta Attorney

What’s next

The second set of 112 modular apartments on Cooper Street is scheduled to open in April, with more housing projects planned as part of the ongoing effort to address homelessness in downtown Atlanta.

The takeaway

The Atlanta Rising Project demonstrates how innovative public-private partnerships and the use of modular construction can rapidly scale up the availability of supportive housing to help people experiencing homelessness rebuild their lives. This approach holds promise for other cities grappling with entrenched homelessness challenges.