In its 2024 report, the Chamber of Commerce ranked Atlanta the fourth loneliest city in the United States , based on the fact that roughly 45% of its households were occupied by individuals living alone. And in 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory declaring loneliness and social isolation a public health epidemic .
According to the advisory, chronic loneliness increases risk of heart disease, stroke, dementia, mental health problems and even premature death. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly half of U.S. adults reported measurable levels of loneliness — a statistic that has likely worsened in a world shaped by remote work, increased screen time and eroding community ties.
