City of Refuge Atlanta: What It Is and How It Serves the City

If you live in Atlanta, chances are you’ve heard the name City of Refuge—especially in conversations about homelessness, job training, or community support on the Westside. This guide explains what City of Refuge Atlanta is, where it’s located, what it does, and how people in Atlanta can connect with its services or get involved.

What Is City of Refuge Atlanta?

City of Refuge Atlanta is a large faith-based nonprofit campus in Westside Atlanta that focuses on helping individuals and families move from crisis to stability and self-sufficiency.

It operates as a kind of “one-stop” community hub, bringing multiple services together in one place, especially for people facing:

• Homelessness or housing instability
• Poverty and food insecurity
• Unemployment or underemployment
• Safety concerns (including women and children leaving unsafe situations)

While grounded in Christian values, services are typically offered to people in need regardless of background, and the campus hosts several partner organizations under one roof.

Where Is City of Refuge Atlanta Located?

Main Campus Address:

City of Refuge Atlanta
1300 Joseph E. Boone Blvd NW
Atlanta, GA 30314

This is in the Historic Westside area, not far from English Avenue and Vine City.

Getting There

• By car: The campus is accessible from Joseph E. Boone Blvd NW, with on-site parking for visitors and program participants.
• By MARTA bus: Routes in the Westside corridor typically serve nearby streets; riders usually check MARTA’s most current bus map or trip planner and search for stops near Joseph E. Boone Blvd NW.
• From downtown or Midtown: Driving typically takes 10–20 minutes depending on traffic, heading west from the central business district.

If you’re planning to visit, it’s a good idea to call ahead or check current program hours, as some services require appointments or program enrollment.

What Does City of Refuge Atlanta Do?

City of Refuge brings together several key areas of support on its Atlanta campus. While specific offerings can change over time, the main focus areas generally include:

1. Housing and Residential Programs

City of Refuge often offers short-term and transitional housing options, especially focused on women, children, and families in crisis.

These programs may include:

• Emergency shelter or crisis housing for women and children
• Transitional housing for those working toward stability
• Support services such as case management, life skills classes, and referrals to long-term housing resources

These housing programs usually have intake processes and eligibility requirements, so walk-ins may not always result in immediate placement. Staff typically guide individuals through:

• Basic screening
• Documentation needs (ID, any existing caseworker info, etc.)
• Safety and immediate needs assessment

For those who cannot be housed on campus, staff often help connect them with other Atlanta shelters and housing resources, such as the City of Atlanta’s coordinated entry system or county social services.

2. Workforce Development and Job Training

A major part of City of Refuge’s work in Atlanta is job training and career support, particularly for people trying to reenter the workforce or move into higher-paying fields.

Programs have historically focused on areas such as:

• Culinary arts and food service
• Automotive services
• Technology and digital skills
• General job readiness (resume help, interview prep, soft skills)

Participants may receive:

• Classroom or hands-on training
• Access to mentors or coaches
• Help with job placement or interviewing with local Atlanta employers

Programs typically serve adults who are willing and able to participate in scheduled training; they may have application processes, orientation sessions, and attendance expectations.

3. Youth and Education Support

For families and youth in the Westside Atlanta area, City of Refuge often provides youth programs and educational support designed to keep young people engaged, safe, and on track.

These may include:

• After-school programs for school-aged children
• Tutoring and homework help
• Enrichment activities (sports, arts, technology, leadership programs)
• Summer activities and camps in partnership with other community organizations

These services help Atlanta parents who are working, attending training programs, or navigating housing and financial challenges, while providing structured, supervised spaces for their children.

4. Health, Wellness, and Basic Needs

One of the most visible roles of City of Refuge in Atlanta is helping people meet basic needs so they can focus on long-term stability.

Depending on current offerings and partnerships, services may include:

• Meals and food support on campus
• Access to clothing closets for everyday wear or job interviews
• Health and wellness services, sometimes through on-site clinics or partners (basic primary care, health screenings, or counseling referrals)
• Assistance with transportation barriers related to employment or services, such as MARTA cards in certain programs

These supports are particularly important for Atlanta residents dealing with food insecurity or chronic financial strain.

5. Safety and Support for Women and Children

City of Refuge is often known locally for its focus on women and children in crisis, especially those leaving unsafe environments or experiencing severe instability.

Key elements can include:

• Secure residential areas for women and children
• Trauma-informed support and counseling referrals
• Case management to help access legal services, public benefits, and long-term housing solutions

While it is not a law enforcement agency or domestic violence hotline, staff can often help connect individuals with:

• Fulton County and City of Atlanta victim support resources
• Dedicated domestic violence shelters in the metro area
• Legal aid organizations that operate in Atlanta

Snapshot: Key Focus Areas at City of Refuge Atlanta

Programs and exact services may shift over time based on funding, partnerships, and community needs, but the core mission remains focused on stability, safety, and opportunity for Atlantans.

Who Can Use City of Refuge Atlanta Services?

Eligibility often depends on the specific program:

• Housing programs may prioritize:

  • Women with children
  • Single women in crisis
  • Families experiencing homelessness or extreme instability

• Job training and workforce programs may be open to:

  • Adults able to participate regularly
  • Atlantans committed to completing training and actively seeking work

• Youth programs generally serve:

  • Children and teens from the Westside and surrounding Atlanta neighborhoods
  • Kids of adults already engaged in other City of Refuge programs

For anyone in Atlanta unsure whether they qualify, staff usually encourage direct contact to explain your situation and learn which options may be available.

How to Contact or Visit City of Refuge Atlanta

If you’re in Atlanta and want to ask about services, schedule an intake, or learn more, the best approach is to contact the campus directly.

Main Campus:
City of Refuge Atlanta
1300 Joseph E. Boone Blvd NW
Atlanta, GA 30314

When reaching out, it helps to:

• Briefly describe your situation (housing, job training, youth support, etc.)
• Ask about current intake hours or appointment requirements
• Bring any identification or documents you do have if you’re told to visit in person (ID, Social Security card if available, proof of income, or anything a current caseworker has given you)

Because programs evolve, staff can provide the most up-to-date details on:

• Available beds or housing options
• Start dates for training programs
• Requirements for youth enrollment
• Community events or resource fairs on campus

How City of Refuge Fits into Atlanta’s Broader Support Network

For someone in Atlanta navigating crisis, City of Refuge is one important part of a larger network. It often works alongside:

• The City of Atlanta and Fulton County social services systems
• Other shelters and transitional housing providers in the metro area
• Local employers, schools, and health providers
• Faith-based and community organizations on the Westside and beyond

If City of Refuge is not the right fit for a particular need—such as a different population, a specific medical issue, or a location outside its focus—staff may still help with referrals to other Atlanta-area resources, so it can be a useful starting point.

Ways Atlantans Can Get Involved

For Atlanta residents, businesses, and visitors interested in supporting the work:

• Volunteering: Many community members volunteer for tasks such as mentoring, tutoring youth, serving meals, or assisting with events.
• Employment partnerships: Atlanta employers sometimes coordinate with City of Refuge to interview or hire graduates of job training programs.
• In-kind support: Donated goods that meet current needs (such as clothing appropriate for interviews) may be accepted through coordinated drives.

Anyone interested in contributing typically contacts the main campus to ask about currently needed items, volunteer processes, and background check requirements.

When City of Refuge Atlanta Might Be Right for You

City of Refuge Atlanta may be a helpful place to start if you are in the city and:

• Are a woman or parent with children trying to leave an unsafe or unstable living situation
• Are experiencing or at risk of homelessness and seeking structured support
• Want job training to move into a more stable or better-paying career
• Live on or near the Westside and want youth programs or after-school options
• Need help with basic necessities while you work toward long-term solutions

For many Atlantans, the appeal of City of Refuge is that multiple kinds of help are available on a single campus, making it easier to address housing, work, and family needs in one place.

If you’re in Atlanta and wondering where to begin, reaching out directly to City of Refuge Atlanta at 1300 Joseph E. Boone Blvd NW can provide a clear next step and help you understand which programs, if any, fit your situation.