ATLANTA, Ga. – On January 16, city vehicles entered an area along Old Wheat Street, directly across from Ebenezer Baptist Church, where a homeless encampment stood. Tragedy struck when one vehicle drove over a tent before it was confirmed that it was unoccupied. Inside the tent was Cornelius Taylor, an unhoused man who was well-known by his community.
Witnesses say Taylor was asleep when the city crew arrived and announced they were going to clear out the tents. Some reports say a city truck ran over Taylor’s tent, while others say it was a front-loader. Taylor sustained severe injuries, and first responders transported him to a local hospital, where he later died.
Activists are demanding that the city pause any planned sweeps following Taylor’s death.
Elected leaders respond
With the incident taking place near The King Center and Ebenezer Baptist Church, Bernice King held a moment of silence during the annual MLK Day service. “I want to take a moment of silence for Cornelius Taylor, who was tragically killed right across the street by a bulldozer driven by an Atlanta Department of Works employee while he was clearing an encampment of our unsheltered brothers and sisters,” said King.
Mayor Andre Dickens said there will be an investigation into the procedure leading up to Taylor’s death. He also released the following statement,
“I am saddened by this terrible incident and extend my thoughts and prayers to the family of the deceased. I care deeply about each and every life in this city. We will review each of our processes and procedures and take every precaution to ensure this never happens again and while we continue our important work to house our unsheltered population and bring our neighbors inside.”
Community leaders and activists organized a rally ahead of Thursday’s City Council meeting. During this rally, Taylor’s family tried to deliver a letter to the mayor’s office, but law enforcement blocked them. An official from Dickens’ office offered to deliver the letter on the family’s behalf.
City Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari told Fox 5 that she will also be calling for changes in how the city addresses homeless encampments. Bakhiari attended a vigil held in Taylor’s honor. She posted on X (formerly Twitter) saying, “Tonight, we honored a life lost too soon: Cornelius Taylor—a life that mattered and was loved. This tragedy calls for justice, accountability, and an Atlanta rooted in compassion and dignity.” She continued, “Tonight, we remember. Tomorrow, we act.”
Homelessness in America
The practice of clearing homeless encampments is not unique to Atlanta. These operations take place in many states across the country. Oklahoma might soon see a radical shift in how state and local governments provide for their unhoused neighbors.
Sen. Lisa Standridge (R-Norman) recently introduced Senate Bill 484. This new legislation seeks to prevent smaller municipalities from providing services to homeless individuals. Specifically, any town with a population of less than 300,000 would not be allowed to create or maintain homeless shelters. Additionally, any town that meets that criteria and currently has homeless programs must terminate those services.
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Standridge herself has said that the first draft of the bill has “unintended consequences,” such as the dismantling of women’s shelters. Many of her constituents have opposed such legislation, but Standridge believes people have misunderstood the language. The bill would prevent the use of tax dollars for homeless programs, but charities could still fund and operate them.
Other states and cities are taking a different approach to address a consistent homelessness rate. Portland, Oregon’s Mayor Keith Wilson has pitched a new plan aimed at ending unsheltered homelessness. Portland saw a 65% increase in its unhoused population between 2019 and 2023.
With the issue seeming to have a firm grasp on nearly every community in America, it is unclear what the most ethical and fiscally responsible approach is.
Solutions to homelessness
The National Alliance to End Homelessness believes the solution requires multiple steps. Various factors contribute to the rise in housing struggles, including employment rates and inflation-adjusted income. These issues highlight why the country continues to face challenges in addressing homelessness.
Their website simplifies the matter by promoting the practice of rapid re-housing. This includes providing short-term rentals to those who meet requirements such as employment, sobriety or a clean record. For those who don’t immediately meet these standards, community-coordinated programs can assist them on their way to a housing-secure future.
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