Politics
Politics

Atlanta mayor spends $1.5 million to isolate virus-infected homeless

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms speaks at a luncheon at the Atlanta Press Club in Atlanta, Ga., on Tuesday, June 18, 2019. (Casey Sykes for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms speaks at a luncheon at the Atlanta Press Club in Atlanta, Ga., on Tuesday, June 18, 2019. (Casey Sykes for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
By Stephen Deere
April 9, 2020

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has ordered that the city spend an additional $1.5 million to test, transport, isolate and shelter homeless people infected with the coronavirus.

In a press release Thursday, the mayor said the money would match a private philanthropic donation to shelter homeless people who have contracted the virus.

“There is a critical need for the Atlanta community to step up to protect and provide for our most vulnerable populations,” Bottoms said in a statement.

Bottoms allocated the money through an executive order, which must be approved by the city council.

About the Author

Stephen Deere covers Atlanta City Hall and Atlanta government.

More Stories

Keep Reading

Sun shines on the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta, Oct. 1, 2025. Both major parties agree that rising costs will be a big campaign issue but they disagree on how to tackle it. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Credit: Abbey Cutrer/AJC

Affordability is now the defining fight in Georgia’s race for governor

While the rivals agree on the problem, they have drastically different ideas about the solution. Candidates for governor sketch out competing plans to bring costs down.

2h ago

Trump split with Marjorie Taylor Greene fueled by his inconsistencies

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's split with President Donald Trump is due in part to Trump's shifts on hot-button issues, while she remains ideologically consistent.

Georgia GOP’s new adviser echoed far-right themes online

Brad Barnes, a Republican activist recently tapped as a “special adviser” to Georgia GOP Chair Josh McKoon, has a history of xenophobic and hateful social media posts.

The Latest

Sun shines on the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta, Oct. 1, 2025. Both major parties agree that rising costs will be a big campaign issue but they disagree on how to tackle it. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Credit: Abbey Cutrer/AJC

Affordability is now the defining fight in Georgia’s race for governor

2h ago

Trump split with Marjorie Taylor Greene fueled by his inconsistencies

Georgia GOP’s new adviser echoed far-right themes online

Featured

Amber Hicks and Cherokee County firefighter Justin Hicks were found dead from gunshot wounds inside their home in November 2021. (Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services)

Credit: Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services

Man convicted of murdering Cherokee firefighter, wife as they watched TV

The deaths of Amber and Justin Hicks shocked their family and community. On Thursday, Matthew Lanz was convicted on all 13 charges he faced.

Report: Georgia unauthorized immigrant population reaches nearly 500,000

Georgia now has the nation’s sixth largest population of unauthorized immigrants, according to the Migration Policy Institute.

Atlanta airport’s troubled Concourse C food court gets new management

OHM Concession Group will take over the Atlanta airport's Concourse C food court, as well as restaurants in Concourses B and F.