Atlanta seniors say city’s promised help with utilities still hasn’t come
Almost a year ago, Atlanta City Council passed legislation creating a new pool of money to help reduce energy bills for older residents in areas of the city plagued by high temperatures and few home central-air conditioning units. The goal was to help low-income seniors access city funds to help transition their homes to more energy-efficient systems.
But a handful of those who have been anticipating the financial aid through the clean energy fund told lawmakers at City Hall last week it still hasn’t arrived.
Southwest Atlanta resident Fran White said that when the $500,000 in funding was passed in May, it gave older residents like her “hope.” The program is being run through the city’s Office of Sustainability.
“However, one year has passed, and we have yet to see these funds reach the people who need them most,” White said. “Commitment matters. I urge you to ensure that these funds are used as originally intended — to provide real relief to seniors who rely on them.”
Officials with the Office of Sustainability told council members last month that they were waiting to distribute the money until after the city evaluates the impact of the Trump administration’s federal funding changes.
“I could spend $500,000 right here in 10 minutes on a number of projects,” Chief Sustainability Officer Chandra Farley said. “We just want to be really careful about our plan first.”
A citywide assessment done in 2023 found that residents in neighborhoods to the west and south of downtown are most vulnerable to climate change-fueled weather events like flash floods and extreme temperatures.
Residents in those areas face disproportionate financial impact from weather disasters and the everyday struggle to stay cool, according to the study. Council members said at the time that Atlanta was the first city in the country to conduct a block-by-block heat vulnerability study to assess the level of energy burden on residents.
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“It’s go time,” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said on social media last week when he made a call for volunteers to help with his reelection campaign.
Just two weeks after the mayor’s annual State of the City address, he’s scheduled to host a rally March 11 to officially kick off his 2025 bid. As of now, no serious challenger has emerged to take on the incumbent.
According to campaign filing submitted in early February, the mayor has about $1.4 million cash on hand so far for his campaign.
Similar to his first bid for mayor, Dickens is expected to focus on topics like bolstering public safety and growing Atlanta’s affordable housing stock.
But he will also have to address unexpected problems the city has faced during his first four years in office, like how to tackle the city’s crumbling water system — a daunting task that officials say will cost billions of dollars. Another challenge: how best to revitalize downtown neighborhoods ahead of the FIFA World Cup coming to town in the summer of 2026.
Although debate over Atlanta’s controversial public safety training center has died down since the facility has been built, the mayor will still likely have to take on project naysayers during his reelection campaign.
Organizers trying to force a referendum over the issue released a video earlier this year calling out Dickens and Atlanta City Council members pushing the project forward despite opposition.
About the Author
Riley Bunch is a reporter on the local government team at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution covering Atlanta City Hall. She covers the mayor and Atlanta City Council while also keeping an eye on the city’s diverse neighborhoods.
