By Heather Fields and Armida Yee-Muñoz
ATLANTA — Members of the Atlanta community discussed the housing crisis recently at the first edition of the new Honors College conversation series: New Angles on Human Rights. This series examines a current issue through the lens of human rights, focusing on creating conversations to better understand the intersection of the issue and Human Rights. This year’s edition focused on the lack of affordable housing and the problems the unhoused community faces in the city.
The panel discussion featured Assistant Vice President of the Atlanta Federal Reserve David Jackson as the moderator. The panelists included ACLU Policy Director Christopher Bruce, Urban Designer Ryan Gravel, Executive Director of the Advocacy and Outreach Center (Central AOC) Kimberly Parker, and COO of Atlanta Housing Dwayne Vaughn.
Questions Asked, Questions Answered
The panel dove into several facets of Atlanta’s housing crisis, beginning with a consensus that while housing is a human right, achieving this right is far from simple. For some individuals, even the most affordable options remain unattainable, highlighting the need for a new approach to defining affordability that aligns with the realities of those in need.
Gravel suggested policy adaptations that could alleviate housing shortages, such as rezoning laws to allow homeowners to rent out basement apartments or additional rooms. However, Gravel’s question, “Do we have the will?” underscored the real obstacle: public hesitation to embrace changes that challenge long-standing norms. The panelists also discussed Atlanta’s unique housing barriers, emphasizing that policies must consider individual needs and circumstances.
Parker noted that some people remain unhoused due to housing options that don’t accommodate pets or require relocation far from established support networks in Atlanta. This complex dynamic, she said, highlights why blanket solutions are often ineffective and why we must approach housing with empathy and flexibility. ￼
The panel agreed that fostering a citywide understanding of housing as a right will require both policy and mindset shifts from the public and private sector alike.
After comments from each panelist, the floor opened to questions from the audience. Several audience members asked about what specific changes could be made to improve the struggle for affordable housing. Snotti St. Cyr, a GSU alum, reflected on his own experience of being unhoused as a student.
“I’ve been in and out of this school for a while. We’re no less important than other students to the GSU community,” he said.
The evening concluded with a reminder that the audience was self-selecting—composed of people already inclined to see housing as a human right. Acknowledging that not everyone shares this belief that housing is a human right allows us to underscore the ongoing challenge: changing attitudes is as crucial as changing policies, and true progress will depend on fostering a broader consensus around housing as a fundamental human right.
This year, GSU's School of Public Health has established a Center on Health and Homelessness that will conduct community-based research and provide learning opportunities for students to collaborate with stakeholders in Atlanta and beyond to develop evidence-based solutions that address homelessness and the obstacles that rise from it. In nearby Woodruff Park, the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District facilitates frequent open-community social events and works to simultaneously implement resource programs for unhoused individuals.
For those ready to turn conversation into action, there are many ways to get involved in addressing Atlanta’s housing crisis. Local outreach efforts and organizations — like the Central AOC that works to connect unhoused individuals with resources and advocate for housing-focused policies — are always looking for volunteers to help make their initiatives a reality. Supporting initiatives that consider all aspects of affordable housing is the first step in mediating the housing crisis.
The New Angles on Human Rights conversation series is set to become a vital platform for fostering dialogue and sparking action in Atlanta. Attendees left not only with new insights into the housing crisis but also with the message that real change begins with each person’s willingness to participate in and advocate for their community.
If you are a current GSU student facing housing insecurities or need resources to meet your basic needs, visit the GSU Student Assistance Website for more information or contact their on-campus office at [email protected].
Relevant Research at GSU
For those interested in learning more on this topic, below is a list of scholarship by GSU faculty:
- "Homeless Adults, Technology and Literacy Practices" by Gertrude Tinker Sachs, Ewa McGrail, Tisha Lewis Ellison, Nicole Dennis Dukes and Kathleen Walsh Zackery (2018)
- “Researchers Find Three Companies Own More Than 19,000 Rental Houses in Metro Atlanta” by Katherine Duplessis (2024)
- Red Hot City by Dan Immergluck (2022)
- “Farmland and Forestland in an Era of Climate Change: Hurricane Micheal and Opportunities to Advance Resilience” by John Travis Marshall (2024)
Courses Offered at GSU about Housing, Homelessness, and Beyond
Below are some GSU courses taught by GSU faculty throughout the year that relate to the topic of the Housing Crisis and Homelessness:
- Honors Seminar: Homelessness in Atlanta, Homelessness Policy – Dr. Joseph Feinberg / Dr. Rusty Tchernis
- Land Use Law – John Travis Marshall
- The Interdisciplinary City – John Travis Marshall
- Urban Economic and Environmental Sustainability Seminar – John Travis Marshall / Dr. David Iwaniec
- Urban Transformations – John Travis Marshall
The Honors College at Georgia State University is a destination for high-achieving students who embody curiosity, take pride in their work and dream about how they can make an impact through their studies and careers. Its mission is to serve students in a welcoming space by engaging students’ curiosity, empowering them to achieve their highest potential and inspiring them to find their place in the world. Its students form life-long friendships, participate in community service, perform research, excel academically, explore their interests and chart their career paths.