Photos: Atlanta to shut down homeless encampment

Life

The city of Atlanta and the nonprofit Partners for HOME plan to shut down a downtown homeless encampment before Labor Day and find housing for the residents. Artist Thomas Lecky, 41, is among those who will have to move.

Thomas Lecky, 41, speaks to a reporter at a homeless encampment in downtown Atlanta on Thursday, August 25, 2022. The city and the nonprofit Partners for HOME plan to shut down the encampment before Labor Day and find housing for the residents. (Arvin Temkar / arvin.temkar@ajc.com)

Thomas Lecky, 41, displays his artwork at a homeless encampment in downtown Atlanta on Thursday, August 25, 2022. The city and the nonprofit Partners for HOME plan to shut down the encampment before Labor Day and find housing for the residents. Making art “centers me and reminds me of my purpose,” says Lecky. “If I didn’t have occupations and things that I do out here, I wouldn’t be able to survive.” (Arvin Temkar / arvin.temkar@ajc.com)

Thomas Lecky, 41, poses for a portrait with his artwork at a homeless encampment in downtown Atlanta on Thursday, August 25, 2022. The city and the nonprofit Partners for HOME plan to shut down the encampment before Labor Day and find housing for the residents. Making art “centers me and reminds me of my purpose,” says Lecky. “If I didn’t have occupations and things that I do out here, I wouldn’t be able to survive.” (Arvin Temkar / arvin.temkar@ajc.com)

Thomas Lecky, 41, displays with his artwork at a homeless encampment in downtown Atlanta on Thursday, August 25, 2022. The city and the nonprofit Partners for HOME plan to shut down the encampment before Labor Day and find housing for the residents. Making art “centers me and reminds me of my purpose,” says Lecky. “If I didn’t have occupations and things that I do out here, I wouldn’t be able to survive.” (Arvin Temkar / arvin.temkar@ajc.com)

Thomas Lecky, 41, speaks about wood and other items he’s collected to build a shelter at a homeless encampment in downtown Atlanta on Thursday, August 25, 2022. The city and the nonprofit Partners for HOME plan to shut down the encampment before Labor Day and find housing for the residents. It’s taken several weeks for Lecky to collect the items, he says. “It helps keep me sane to have a routine.” (Arvin Temkar / arvin.temkar@ajc.com)

Thomas Lecky, 41, displays a Bible at a homeless encampment in downtown Atlanta on Thursday, August 25, 2022. The city and the nonprofit Partners for HOME plan to shut down the encampment by Sept. 8, 2022, and find housing for the residents. Lecky gives out Bibles, which he received from the First Baptist Church of Woodstock. (Arvin Temkar / arvin.temkar@ajc.com)

Thomas Lecky, 41, displays a suitcase of Bibles at a homeless encampment in downtown Atlanta on Thursday, August 25, 2022. The city and the nonprofit Partners for HOME plan to shut down the encampment by Sept. 8, 2022, and find housing for the residents. Lecky gives out the Bibles, which he received from the First Baptist Church of Woodstock. (Arvin Temkar / arvin.temkar@ajc.com)

Thomas Lecky, 41, walks through his section of a homeless encampment in downtown Atlanta on Thursday, August 25, 2022. The city and the nonprofit Partners for HOME plan to shut down the encampment by Sept. 8, 2022, and find housing for the residents. (Arvin Temkar / arvin.temkar@ajc.com)

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Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

Thomas Lecky, 41, speaks to a reporter at a homeless encampment in downtown Atlanta on Thursday, August 25, 2022. The city and the nonprofit Partners for HOME plan to shut down the encampment before Labor Day and find housing for the residents. (Arvin Temkar / arvin.temkar@ajc.com)

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