DUNWOODY, Ga. — The city of Dunwoody has awarded Family Promise of North Fulton/DeKalb a $50,000 grant to help offset costs the organization incurred in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The money is part of $400,000 in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding the city council approved for Dunwoody’s Vulnerable Population Program. The program provides grants to local not-for-profits that serve people affected by the pandemic.
Family Promise of North Fulton/DeKalb plans to use the money to cover families’ expenses for hotel rooms, childcare services, and enhanced cleaning.
“We appreciate the support of the Dunwoody City Council,” said Andrea Brantley, executive director of Family Promise of North Fulton/DeKalb. “We could not continue to fulfill our mission without the help and support of the local communities we serve.
“This has been a challenging year for everyone, and our neighbors undergoing situational homelessness have also faced the struggles of the pandemic,” Brantley added. “Even amid a pandemic, situational homelessness remains a crisis in our community, and we won’t slow our push to help every family in need.”
Family Promise of North Fulton/DeKalb works with more than two dozen congregations in metro Atlanta to find permanent housing for families. In 2019, the chapter helped more than 80 families, and as a result, 178 children and 85 adults, mostly single mothers, have a place to call home.
The organization has remained busy during the pandemic. In July, Family Promise of North Fulton/DeKalb worked with Midas Alpharetta and 1-800-Charity Cars to donate refurbished cars at no cost to a pair of families rebounding from situational homelessness.
Earlier this month, the Atlanta Braves Foundation awarded a $5,000 grant to Family Promise of North Fulton/DeKalb. The grant will support Family Promise of North Fulton/DeKalb's rotational shelter program.
At their Oct. 26 meeting, the Dunwoody City Council approved $50,000 grants for seven other organizations. “When I look at the list, I’m overwhelmed by the amount of care these organizations have given our community,” Dunwoody City Councilman John Heneghan said during the meeting.
“This may be the best thing we’ve done all year in a lot of ways,” Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch said.
For more information, visit familypromisenfd.org.
Midas Alpharetta is repairing donated cars at no cost for a pair of families working with Family Promise of North Fulton/DeKalb to rebound from situational homelessness.
The donations are part of Midas’ Project Spark, a program that helps families, first responders and veterans in need of reliable transportation. Family Promise of North Fulton/DeKalb formally handed over the keys to the vehicles during a brief ceremony on Wednesday, July 29, at Midas Alpharetta.
Under the program, donors turn over their vehicles to 1-800-Charity Cars, and Midas locations nationwide make any needed repairs before handing over the cars to the recipients, who then take ownership of a reliable car without the burden of a lease, loan or additional maintenance.
“Transportation is vital to today’s families and job seekers, and we appreciate Midas and 1-800-Charity Cars for all they do to help our families,” Andrea Brantley, executive director of Family Promise of North Fulton/DeKalb. “Getting a vehicle is expensive, and unfortunately, it is out of reach for many people today who are overcoming situational homelessness. Programs like this are invaluable to families who, with a little support, can stand on their own.”
Situational homelessness could worsen because of COVID-19, but programs like Project Spark help families overcome a key obstacle to maintaining employment. To date, Midas has repaired about 50 cars donated nationwide as part of Project Spark.
“We’re happy to have this opportunity to partner with such worthy organizations that are giving opportunities to deserving families,” said Louis Lugo, senior marketing manager for Midas. “We know the importance of reliable transportation, and we have the power to help transform lives just by fixing cars.”
1-800-Charity Cars, established in 1996, provides free donated vehicles to help struggling families as they transition to self-sufficiency. Last year, the organization gave away cars worth a combined $6.4 million.
“We know it doesn’t take much for people to find themselves in a difficult situation, and we’re proud to give a helping hand,” said Brian Menzies, CEO of The Original 1-800-Charity Cars. “This donation allows us to help even more families and give them a leg up they need in this especially difficult time.”
Family Promise of North Fulton/DeKalb has worked with 25 congregations in metro Atlanta to find permanent housing for 80 families. As a result, 178 children and 85 adults, mostly single mothers, now have a place to call home.
For more information, visit familypromisenfd.org.
The COVID-19 pandemic will have a long-lasting effect on situational homelessness as people struggle to find work even as the world and the economy works to rebound.
“I do see the homeless situation getting worse because of COVID-19,” said Andrea Brantley, executive director of Family Promise of North Fulton/DeKalb.
The organization works with local congregations to house up to four families at a time. But, even as the COVID-19 pandemic starts to subside, Brantley worries more people could find themselves situationally homeless.
“A lot of us don’t realize that there’s homeless in our communities,” Brantley said. “People have a perception of what homelessness looks like and which communities it is in, or not in, however, that’s not the case. For many families, situational homelessness looks like sleeping in their car or living out of a motel when they can’t afford a permanent place to stay. It’s families within every community that have fallen behind.”
Despite the COVID-19 outbreak, the fight against situational homelessness continues. While Family Promise of North Fulton/DeKalb usually rotates families among its congregation partners, the organization has opted to limit the movement of families and their level of interaction with volunteers.
Despite the restrictions, a caseworker still meets with the families to ensure they have what they need. And the organization helped find employment for a single mother enrolled in its program.
“We haven’t missed a beat,” Brantley said. “We continue to empower our families, lift them up and connect them with resources. We continue to do our job the best we can while making adjustments to meet new the safety requirements.”
To date, 25 congregations across metro Atlanta have helped more than 80 families — including 178 children and 85 adults, principally single mothers — find permanent housing.
While COVID-19 has limited in-person volunteering opportunities for the moment, the organization is always looking for new creative partnerships and innovations in the fight against situational homelessness.
“We’re always looking for partners. A partnership doesn’t need to be a financial one,” Brantley said. “We’re continually looking for new ways we can work with members of the community to raise awareness about situational homelessness.”
For more information, follow Family Promise of North Fulton/DeKalb on Facebook at facebook.com/FamilyPromisenfd or sign up for the organization’s newsletter at familypromisenfd.org.