Mapped by youth — a resource hub for families experiencing homelessness.
ATLift connects Atlanta's families experiencing homelessness to shelters, food, health clinics, jobs, and more — all in one place, open right now, directions in hand.
ATLift covers every essential service — searchable, filterable by "Open Now," with real-time MARTA directions. No more calling around. No more outdated flyers.
ATLift was designed from real research — interviews with shelter staff, social workers, and community members. These are the people behind every design decision.
Former warehouse worker, recently evicted after a rent increase. Avoids crowded shelters due to safety concerns, keeps everything in a backpack, picks up day labor when available. Limited data. Limited trust in systems.
After leaving a domestic violence situation, Keisha and her daughter entered the shelter system. She works part-time retail but earns too little for market rent, and faces long housing waitlists.
Works daily delivery gigs but can't qualify for a lease — credit issues, inconsistent income. Spends most earnings on weekly motel fees. Doesn't appear in housing-instability datasets, but one bad week from the street.
Built for older Android phones with prepaid data plans. Fast, clear, and accessible — because the people who need it most can't afford friction.
ATLift was built by young people at the Best Buy Teen Tech Center at Fulton County Central Library (1 Margaret Mitchell Square NW, Atlanta), in partnership with the Best Buy Foundation. We researched the problem, interviewed shelter staff and social workers, designed every screen, and wrote every line of code.
"In Atlanta, families experiencing homelessness have no single place to find accurate, real-time information about shelters, food, health clinics, and other essential services." — ATLift Problem Statement
We're looking for community partners to help keep resource data accurate and expand ATLift to more cities. Download the app, share it with someone who needs it, or join us.
