Community & Civic Life

To have a say in what gets built near you, go to your Neighborhood Planning Unit. Atlanta is split into 25 of them, called NPUs and named by letter. Each meets once a month, and anyone who lives or owns a business in the area can come and speak. NPUs vote on what can be built where, on liquor licenses and on city plans, and the City Council sees their vote before it decides. Each NPU sets its own rule for who can vote, and some ask you to attend a meeting or two first. Search "Atlanta NPU" with your address to find yours.

To report a problem, call 311 inside Atlanta, or 404-546-0311, about potholes, missed trash, water bills and broken streetlights.

To vote, check your registration, polling place and sample ballot at mvp.sos.ga.gov. You have to register about a month before an election. You need a photo ID to vote, and your county elections office gives a free voter ID card if you don't have one.

To volunteer, Hands On Atlanta lists shifts across the metro area, many of them for one morning. See volunteering.

For free rooms, computers and classes, use your library. A card is free. Fulton County Library System branches have meeting rooms, computers and printing, and staff who can point you to help.

After a fire, flood or storm, call the American Red Cross at 800-733-2767. After a house fire they help the same day with a place to stay and the basics. See disaster help.

For neighbor groups, many small groups here share food, clothes and rides with no office and no forms. Some only post on Instagram. We list them when we can confirm they are active.

Written by ATL Care from the listings in this directory. See something wrong? Tell us.