A local homeless mission says it’s seeing an increase in people needing help

A local nonprofit says they’re seeing growing numbers of people facing homelessness because they’re struggling to pay all their bills.

Channel 2′s Ashli Lincoln spoke with a local organization that is pivoting to meet the demand.

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Rachel Reynolds with the Atlanta Mission said they are seeing everyday hard-working people fall on hard times for reasons directly related to inflation and rent prices.

“Someone doesn’t come into our shelter and say, I’m here because of inflation,” Reynolds said.

But that’s exactly what Reynolds says they’re seeing at the Atlanta Mission.

“You know they couldn’t pay rent, weren’t able to provide child care or didn’t have child care for their children,” Reynolds said. “I’m seeing a lot of people who moved to Atlanta recently, a lot of people who are on fixed income.”

Based on recent numbers from the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, reported in 2020, more than 10,000 Georgians were homeless.

A number of homeless outreach organizations say the number has increased due to the pandemic, inflation, and rental hikes.

“The cost of living is drastically different than what it was 10 years ago,” Reynolds said.

Last month, renters like Latresa Chaney took to the streets to protest against rent hikes.

“It’s hard to find somewhere for my family and to go,” said Chaney. “Why not raise the wages where I can afford a $2,000 three-bedroom? I’d never seen anything like this.”

Data from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta has declared the metro area housing market unaffordable.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported earlier this month the food index saw its 17th consecutive monthly increase.

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With that and other day-to-day inflation-related cost increases, Reynolds says it’s not surprising more people are finding themselves in need.

“We’re projecting that we’re probably going to see it rise more because of what’s currently going on with inflation,” Reynolds said.

Economists estimate that if housing costs don’t slow down soon, it will be harder for overall inflation to return to more normal levels.

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