Busy Fall for HomeAid Georgia

HomeAid Georgia – November 27, 2024 – November is National Homelessness Awareness Month, a time to reflect on the challenges faced by individuals without stable housing and to explore how everyone can make a difference. In Georgia, approximately 12,294 people experience homelessness on any given night, equating to about 9 individuals per 10,000 residents. This fall, HomeAid organized five Care Days and two CareKit events valued at over $70,000 and began a new construction project. 

International Women’s House (IWH), a shelter that provides a safe haven and supportive services to victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and human trafficking, received three Care Days with a total value of $26,494. Strack and Professional Women in Building (PWB) partnered to tackle the first Care Day at the end of September. Brightwater Homes joined HomeAid on November 8, and Loudermilk Homes and a representative from Home Depot Pro Services completed the final Care Day on November 15. Through these three Care Days, IWH was given a complete paint makeover throughout the entire facility, including all seven resident rooms, as well as new flooring and cabinets, and repairs. Special thanks to Sherwin Williams for donating 100 gallons of paint, Elite Flooring and Brightwater Homes for donating flooring and Timberlake Cabinetry for donating cabinets. Additional thanks to Eastlake Construction for bringing a crew to finish the remaining paint project and Home Depot for offering discounts on materials. 

Also in November, SEI Group, DT Builds, and Brand Vaughan Lumber joined HomeAid at BeLoved Atlanta’s first Care Day. DT Builds installed new kitchen cabinets and Atlantis Granite & Marble donated and installed a new granite countertop for their office/community room, while the remaining volunteers painted the interior of three resident homes and completed landscaping work around the properties. This donation of materials and labor, as well as other donations from Lifecycle Building Center and Sherwin Williams, came to $16,529 in savings. Lastly, HomeAid had the pleasure of working with their friends, Ashton Woods and Starlight Homes, who began installing blocking to hang doors and cabinets at Georgia Works during a Care Day on November 1.  Ashton Woods and Starlight Homes will return for two more Care Days in December to complete the work on this 165-bed facility.  

In addition to these impactful Care Days, HomeAid Georgia began work on a project with Breakthru House to add 24 beds for women recovering from addiction. The project kicked off with demolition work led by Strack and J. Mitchell Contracting, with Taylor Morrison stepping into the crucial role of Builder Captain. 

There were also two CareKit assembly events. Northview Church mobilized 25 teen volunteers to pack 1,000 CareKits, which were distributed to DeKalb Library Foundation and St. Vincent de Paul of Georgia. In a separate event, the GAHBA Young Professionals Group (YPG) assembled an additional 500 CareKits for St. Vincent de Paul of Georgia on November 13 as part of their annual Thanks-For-Giving campaign. 

HomeAid Georgia is a nonprofit organization founded in 2001, with a mission to help people experiencing or at risk of homelessness build new lives through construction, community engagement, and education. HomeAid builds, renovates, and maintains facilities for nonprofits serving people experiencing homelessness. HomeAid has completed 200 construction projects at locations for victims of domestic violence, teen mothers, veterans and more, utilizing connections with building industry professionals and community organizations. HomeAid also provides essential items like diapers, wipes, and hygiene products to those affected by homelessness. HomeAid is the designated charity of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association. Learn more at www.homeaidga.org.