ATLANTA — On Friday, community leaders fought back tears as they celebrated 'The Melody,' — a rapid housing community named for a woman they couldn't help in time.
"I came to know Melody Bloodsworth about two years ago, she struggled with mental health and addictive disease, and as a result of those challenges, also had some complex medical challenges," said Cathryn Vassell, CEO of Partners for HOME. "We couldn't find the right housing solution for Melody she wound up leaving [a placement in Gwinnett County] and soon after passed away on the street."
That tragic story inspired Vassell and others — to move with urgency. Her tragedy is one of many reasons they're turning to rapid housing as a solution.
Roughly two dozen shipping containers used as hospital rooms during the height of COVID-19 are now 40 studio-style apartments that have private bathrooms, beds and kitchenettes.
"We created and designed this place for people with people like Melody in mind, right in the heart of downtown Atlanta, that's accessible to public transit, with 32 of the 40 units that are accessible," Vassell said. "It is her story and others that drives us and compels us to move with urgency to create a rehousing system that can exit people — all people, regardless of their complexity — out of homelessness as quickly as possible.
Take a look at 'The Melody'
The Melody will have two on-site staff members with advanced clinical licensures and two who are certified peer specialists who know what it's like to experience homelessness, Vassell said.
"I love it. I won't be having to struggle with all these bags trying to get here and there and get to the bus," said Wanda Sutton, who is among the first group that will give to live at The Melody. "I'll be able to lay in bed at night and that's just wonderful just being here will take a lot of stress off of me."
The City of Atlanta wants to create 500 rapid housing units by the end of 2025. The next site will be on Northside Drive next to the city's water reservoir, according to Mayor Andre Dickens.
"We're excited about the potential of replicating the success of this project on a new site," he said. "We want to be as thoughtful and as intentional as possible in creating a safe and dignified community where residents can thrive and find pathways out of homelessness."