Neither Atlanta Nor The State Keeps Track of Homeless Deaths

We know at least eight homeless Atlantans have died in the cold this winter. But is that number worse or better than average for the metro area? Hard to say.

The number of deaths of homeless people is something neither the city nor the state keeps track of regularly. So, of agencies such as the city’s nonprofit manager of homeless services, Continuum of Care; Georgia’s Department of Public Health; and the CDC, none track it.

Official information about the hypothermia deaths is collected by individual medical examiners, but homeless advocates’ keep their own count — and it’s higher.