Atlanta ranked last for economic mobility; these organizations want to change that

Organizations across metro Atlanta have launched Opportunity Rising, an initiative designed to help working families improve their economic standing and achieve financial stability.

The effort follows a 2024 Harvard University study that ranked the Atlanta region last out of 50 major cities for economic mobility.

Opportunity Rising brings together the Atlanta Regional Commission, the United Way of Greater Atlanta, the City of Atlanta and The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. The initiative uses data to address economic barriers and coordinate programs to help families earn and retain more money.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

“One of the things that we see is there are lots of activity and lots of initiatives out there. But the thing that doesn’t really happen often enough is that they all get connected,” Milton Little with the United Way of Greater Atlanta told Channel 2’s Candace McCowan. “They all get integrated, particularly when each one of them is trying to solve the same problem.”

Among the existing efforts operating in the area is the Motel to Home program, a collaboration between the United Way of Greater Atlanta and community organizations.

Joy Monroe serves as executive director of the Single Parent Alliance and Resource Center, or SPARC, which has spent years partnering on the initiative to assist families living in temporary motel lodgings.

TRENDING STORIES:

• 2 teens shot to death during vape cartridge sale in Gwinnett
• LIVE UPDATES: State of emergency declared for several north Georgia counties
• Video shows man try to shoot woman before gun jams

Monroe explained that many families relying on weekly motel rentals earn income but face hurdles building savings.

“They have sufficient funds, they just can’t save enough money because they’re in that weekly cycle of trying to make sure that they pay for that room,” Monroe said.

Through the program, SPARC provides direct financial assistance to help families secure stable housing.

“We are able to provide funds toward their security deposit in the first month’s rent so that they can move out,” Monroe said.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]