HomeAid Atlanta recently held a groundbreaking ceremony to kick-off a much-needed expansion project at The Drake House in Roswell. This expansion will increase the facility’s office space by 1,000 square feet, and it will add a new Teen Center, a ‘Mom’ classroom and a food pantry space. In addition to the expansion, the project will provide an overhaul to the office space to make it ADA compliant, allowing for better traffic flow throughout the building.

The expansion at The Drake House is estimated to cost close to $270,000. So far, HomeAid Atlanta has secured approximately $100,000 in donations of in-kind materials and labor for the project through the support of both companies and private individuals. The project is being managed by its builder captain, Vincent Longo of Vincent Longo Custom Builders.

“HomeAid Atlanta has maintained a strong relationship with The Drake House since partnering on their 16-unit renovation in 2006 with builder captain O’Dwyer Homes. The renovation provided TDH with 44 shelter beds, which has helped almost 600 children and their mothers, so far, by giving them a place to call home,” said Jean Hilyard, HomeAid Atlanta’s executive director. “We know this expansion will allow TDH to better help and heal its residents. We are honored to work with TDH again and help build new lives for homeless families. We are so fortunate to have Vincent Longo leading the project, as well as all the donors who have given so generously to this effort.”

The Drake House offers emergency and transitional housing to homeless and single mothers with young children. The facility also provides services to enable families to become more self-sufficient.

To see more photos from the groundbreaking, visit HomeAid Atlanta’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/homeaidatlanta. For more information on HomeAid Atlanta, visit www.HomeAidAtlanta.org.