Welcome home: a 160-square-foot fresh start
- Iris Brooks, CoL fellow
- 3 minutes ago
- 3 min read
The Melody transforms shipping containers into housing for some of Atlanta’s unhoused community members
This story is part of a series called “Rethinking the American Dream.” Through these vignettes, Cost of Living Fellow Iris Brooks is exploring how innovative housing solutions—like land trusts—can address Atlanta’s affordability crisis. Brooks lives in a multigenerational home, sharing space with several family members, a living arrangement that has become increasingly common as housing costs rise. She has lived in Decatur for 13 years.
In a city grappling with homelessness and affordable housing shortages, the Melody is an experiment in rapid housing solutions. By converting shipping containers into micro-apartments, this facility addresses the immediate need for housing while providing wraparound services designed to help residents rebuild their lives. Named after a woman who died while experiencing homelessness, the Melody serves as a shelter and a stepping stone.
The Melody on Forsyth Street represents an innovative approach to addressing homelessness in Atlanta. Opening last year, this project transformed 20 shipping containers into 40 studio apartments, each measuring 160 square feet. Named in honor of Melody Bloodworth, an Atlanta resident who died while unhoused in 2022, the facility focuses on preparing residents for independent living.
The Melody operates under the principle that some residents may make it their permanent home through cost-sharing arrangements, while others work toward independent housing. Staff emphasize budgeting skills and personal responsibility, helping residents avoid returning to homelessness. Behavioral health clinicians provide on-site support.
The program requires residents to maintain budgets and demonstrate accountability for personal expenses. This structured approach aims to break cycles that may have led to homelessness while providing stable housing and support services.
George Jack Suddeth, a 44-year-old former truck driver and “Grady Baby,” arrived at the Melody after suffering five strokes in two years that significantly impacted his health. The strokes ended his trucking career and dramatically changed his daily capabilities; he said the Melody staff have provided support during this vulnerable time. “They care. They gave me a room and I talk to all of them,” Suddeth said.
His mobility is limited. He doesn’t venture out much but can manage trips to the grocery store when necessary. The discovery that he could remain at the Melody permanently provided crucial stability. “I found out a couple of months ago that this wasn’t just a year, that they put me in for permanent housing here, which means that I can stay here,” he said.
Suddeth’s immediate goals focus on regaining mobility and relearning to read so he can manage his medication and mail on his own. “I got a dictionary in my room. I keep going over words, and I try to pick out seven words, and I got a week to learn them,” he said.
He said he’s grateful for the support while he works toward recovery. “If it wasn’t for Evolution and the Melody, I wouldn’t be where I am now. Because of them, I am learning how to do things that I need to do.”
Sherlyn Freeman, a 54-year-old mother of seven and grandmother of 16, moved into the Melody last year following a mental health crisis that had required emergency intervention and hospitalization. Later, support services helped her access medication and move into the Melody.
Freeman’s focus remains on achieving independence. “I’m working towards getting me housing. That’s my goal. I like it here, don’t get me wrong,” she said. “It is amazing, but I want to be on my own and show people that I can.”
She’s motivated by her children and grandchildren. “I can make sure my bills paid, make sure everything is right, so I can get the relationships back that I lost,” she said.
Her current priority remains self-improvement: “I can only focus on me right now.” •
Do you live in a nontraditional housing setup? From shared spaces to ADUs, we want to hear how you make it work. Share your story with us for a chance to be featured in this series exploring how Atlantans are reshaping what home looks like.