Neighbors question plan to bring 900 homeless to Atlanta community

Residents voice concerns over proposal to convert skatepark into homeless housing complex

Mar. 27, 2026 at 3:33am

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Dozens of residents in Atlanta's Westside neighborhood gathered to discuss a proposal by the Atlanta Mission to convert a local skatepark into a housing complex for nearly 900 people experiencing homelessness. The plan has faced backlash, with over 1,100 people signing a petition against the project. Residents argue the Westside is already disproportionately handling the city's social services and question why the neighborhood is not seeing the same commercial development as other parts of Atlanta.

Why it matters

The proposal highlights ongoing tensions around the equitable distribution of affordable housing and social services across different neighborhoods in Atlanta. While addressing homelessness is a critical need, residents argue the Westside community is already overburdened and should not have to shoulder the entire responsibility for the city.

The details

The Atlanta Mission plans to use a permit to transform the current site of the Village Skatepark, located near the Westside Beltline Trail, into a residential facility with wrap-around support services. This would displace the current skatepark tenants, including Joel Dickerson who has worked in the space for three years. Atlanta City Councilman Byron Amos expressed concerns about the location, while housing advocate Tim Franzen argued the funding and space are already available to address the local homelessness crisis.

  • The online petition against the project has collected nearly 1,100 signatures as of March 27, 2026.
  • Skatepark tenant Joel Dickerson was informed a few weeks ago that he must vacate the property by next Friday.

The players

Atlanta Mission

A nonprofit organization that plans to convert the Village Skatepark into a housing complex for people experiencing homelessness.

Joel Dickerson

A tenant who has worked at the Village Skatepark for three years and must vacate the property by next Friday.

Byron Amos

An Atlanta City Councilman who attended the community meeting and expressed concerns about the location of the proposed homeless housing complex.

Westside for Economic Justice

A community group that presented data on the amount of affordable housing and social resources already located in the Westside neighborhood.

Tim Franzen

A housing advocate who spoke in favor of the project, arguing the funding and space are already available to address the local homelessness crisis.

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What they’re saying

“I'm devastated. It was going to be an impactful summer. We do things every weekend.”

— Joel Dickerson, Skatepark tenant

“I understand the project. I understand the need. I disagree with the location on the Beltline on the Westside.”

— Byron Amos, Atlanta City Councilman

“We know the city has a responsibility for those that are struggling, for those that are unhoused, for those that are underserved and under resourced, but the westside cannot continue to carry all of that weight for the city of Atlanta.”

— Johnnie Thomas, Westside resident

“Not either way for me yet. I want to know more.”

— Arthur Toal, Westside resident

“They have a space. There is funding to do this. It is in a community that has a lot of need when it comes to this particular problem. Those that are experiencing homelessness in that community are from that community, so any solution that ships people out. I don't know if you can really call that equity.”

— Tim Franzen, Housing advocate

What’s next

The Atlanta City Council will likely vote on the proposal in the coming months, with residents continuing to voice their concerns and advocate for more equitable distribution of homeless services across the city.

The takeaway

This debate highlights the complex challenges of addressing homelessness in a way that balances the needs of the unhoused population with the concerns of existing neighborhood residents. It underscores the importance of inclusive, community-driven planning to ensure solutions are sustainable and equitable across different parts of the city.