AP: Some Host Cities Are Aiming to House, Not Arrest, Homeless People Ahead of the World Cup
Cities are using existing programs, tiny homes and motel placements, while Atlanta says its campaign has housed nearly 500 people.
- Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, host cities including Atlanta, Dallas, and Seattle are expanding homelessness services, while Toronto and Vancouver rely on existing programs without new World Cup funding.
- Atlanta's 'Downtown Rising' program has housed nearly 500 people, while Housing Forward CEO Sarah Kahn reported a $30 million campaign since 2024 reduced downtown Dallas street homelessness by 87%.
- Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson acknowledged missing her goal of opening 500 new shelter units by 425, though the city will add 228 beds by summer's end.
- Carter Hewgley, who oversees strategic partnerships at LA County's Homeless Services and Housing Department, said the agency secured three motel sites; Toronto and Vancouver rely on established services without relocation plans.
- Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, said communities face a choice between "sweep people out of encampments" or doing the harder work benefiting everyone in the community.
56 Articles
56 Articles
At the gates of the 2026 World Cup, the mayor’s office in Los Angeles accelerates the eviction of camps to make up its serious crisis of homeless people. Social organizations denounce that the million-dollar temporary shelter plan prioritizes tourism aesthetics and sports business
Los Angeles Times
Independent EspañolAbout 1,500 meters from Atlanta Stadium, which will receive tens of thousands of fans for World Cup matches, dozens of people were camping on a sidewalk downtown, waiting for it to open a shelter for homeless people.
Your Hometown Stations
Takeaways from AP's report on how World Cup host cities are approaching homelessness
Some North American cities are using the upcoming World Cup as a catalyst to address homelessness. Atlanta launched a downtown program that has housed nearly 500 people. Dallas spent $10 million to reduce downtown street sleeping by 87%. Seattle is…
Associated Press News
Some host cities are aiming to house, not arrest, homeless people ahead of the World Cup
The World Cup is offering the 16 host cities a chance to take action against one of the biggest problems they face — homelessness.
Tiny homes see boost for Los Angeles homeless as World Cup nears
Read: 3 min For the past few months, Michael Gilpin has slept in a small, prefabricated house he moved into when he got off the streets of Los Angeles as part of a major drive to reduce homelessness. The single-room unit is a long way from perfect — he says it has the air of a “jail cell” — but it’s a huge improvement on sleeping in his car. “It’s better than the streets, hands down,” the 44-year-old said of his 65-square-foot home, which he sha…
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