After funeral for Cornelius Taylor, public urged council to halt sweeps and expand housing; council adds groups to homeless task force

Speakers at the Feb. 3 City Council meeting pressed elected officials for immediate changes to how Atlanta handles homelessness after the death of Cornelius Taylor, who died during a recent encampment removal.

Advocates, family members and residents urged the council to stop sweeps of homeless encampments and invest in permanent housing and wraparound services instead of short-term relocations. The council adopted an amended task-force resolution (25R-3086) that adds three organizations to the panel — American Friends Service Committee, Concerned Black Clergy and Spark — and the motion passed 14-0.

Several speakers tied the policy ask to the funeral they had just attended. Housing Justice League representative Matthew Nursi told the council: "Stop the sweeps permanently. No exceptions. No caveats," urging a housing-first strategy with wraparound services. A first-year Georgia State law student, Ajo Badu, who testified after attending Taylor's funeral, called for a permanent moratorium on sweeps and said the city should not allow encampments to be cleared without long-term housing alternatives.

Family members also addressed the council. Kay Marie Presley, who identified herself as the mother of Cornelius Lashawn Taylor, told the chamber that the city faces a reckoning for how it treats people without housing and urged officials to do more than offer short-term responses. Other speakers — including Duane Robinson, Monica Johnson, and community organizers who feed and shelter people downtown — gave multiple examples of individuals sleeping outdoors, lack of nearby restrooms and mental-health needs.

Council members moved on two related actions during the meeting. The council amended and approved the homeless task force resolution (25R-3086) by voice and roll call; the amended version added the three organizations named above and passed 14-0. Separately, the council referred a separate resolution asking the mayor to produce a 90-day feasibility study on an authority and special levy district to address homelessness and housing needs (ELMS ID 37295) jointly to the Committee on Community Development & Human Services and the Finance Executive Committee for review and possible action.

Advocates argued that the city has money but needs to reallocate it: speakers repeatedly asked council members to shift budget priorities away from enforcement and toward permanent housing, health care, and job placement services. Multiple public commenters said they had direct experience sleeping outside or supporting neighbors who are homeless; several described pushing for system changes rather than periodic enforcement.

What's next: Council committees will review the referred feasibility study on housing authority and levy options; advocates said they will press for a permanent moratorium on sweeps and sustained budget commitments to housing-first strategies.