by Keka Araújo
October 31, 2025
The orders stay in impact via Jan. 31, 2026, or till the federal shutdown ends, whichever comes first.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens at present launched ATL CARES (Group Motion & Aid for Emergency Help), an pressing initiative designed to guard 1000’s of residents from the approaching lack of federal Supplemental Diet Help Program (SNAP) advantages.
This system, enacted in response to ongoing federal funding uncertainty and the specter of a authorities shutdown, instantly mandates a moratorium on water shutoffs and residential evictions, a spokesperson instructed BLACK ENTERPRISE.
Joined by metropolis council members and key nonprofit leaders, Mayor Dickens emphasised that the Metropolis of Atlanta is dedicated to bridging the hole for susceptible residents who depend on SNAP as a essential lifeline.
“No resident ought to go hungry or surprise how they’ll put meals on the desk due to a authorities shutdown or a failure to agree on coverage selections,” Mayor Dickens acknowledged. “We care and are standing in hole—not as an alternative to federal advantages, however as a bridge to make sure our residents’ primary wants are met.”
Moratorium on Evictions and Utilities
The centerpiece of the ATL CARES response is administrative order directing key metropolis departments and sponsored entities to stop monetary penalties and termination providers. The orders stay in impact via Jan. 31, 2026, or till the federal shutdown ends, whichever comes first.
The order directs the Commissioner of the Division of Watershed Administration to chorus from terminating the water providers of any residential buyer attributable to non-payment.
Moreover, the order establishes a brief moratorium on residential evictions and filings throughout Metropolis-owned, Metropolis-sponsored, and Metropolis-funded housing models. Entities, together with the Atlanta Housing Authority, Make investments Atlanta, and the Atlanta Beltline Inc., are instructed to not concern termination notices or provoke evictions for non-payment of hire, nor to impose late charges for late or non-payment.
To deal with the ensuing meals insecurity instantly, town is coordinating rapid-response efforts with native companions. The Atlanta Group Meals Financial institution introduced it’s drawing $5 million from its reserves to buy greater than 6 million kilos of emergency meals.
“The Meals Financial institution has taken decisive measures to buy further meals and improve our distribution capability by practically 85%,” stated Kyle Waide, president and CEO of Atlanta Group Meals Financial institution. “These further funds will enable us to achieve 1000’s extra households struggling to place meals on the desk and be sure that no household in Atlanta goes hungry throughout this essential time.”
The Dickens administration is actively looking for additional sources from personal and nonprofit companions to maintain the hassle.
“The Metropolis of Atlanta urges residents, religion leaders, nonprofits, and companies to affix ATL CARES in supporting town’s most susceptible. Collectively, Atlanta can guarantee each neighbor has entry to the necessities they want, even amid federal uncertainty.”
ATL CARES encourages everybody to affix town in assembly the second via three key actions:
- Contribute to native meals banks and group pantries. Companions just like the Atlanta Group Meals Financial institution, Goodr, and Hosea Helps are positioned to stretch donations effectively and ship quick help to households. Go to acfb.org/shutdown, Goodr.co, and 4Hosea.org to donate and for additional particulars.
- Help an area household via your Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU) or neighborhood affiliation. Neighbors serving to neighbors strengthens Atlanta’s social material and retains households steady throughout difficult occasions.
- Host or take part in group meals drives. Residents, colleges, and companies are inspired to gather meals gadgets or manage donation drop-offs to assist fill the hole in groceries for households affected by the SNAP lapse.
Please go to our web site atlantaga.gov or the Metropolis of Atlanta’s social channels for an inventory of sources.
Understanding the Regional Affect
The potential funding lapse poses a extreme disaster for the metro space. Roughly 260,000 folks within the Atlanta metro area —about 13% of the inhabitants —obtain SNAP advantages. Throughout the 11-county Atlanta Regional Fee (ARC) area, practically 580,000 folks obtain help. In Fulton County alone, greater than 51,000 residents rely upon this system. Statewide, 1.6 million Georgians depend on the help yearly.
The town is urging residents, companies, and religion leaders to affix the ATL CARES effort by contributing to native meals banks, supporting neighbors via Neighborhood Planning Items (NPUs), and internet hosting group meals drives.
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