HomeAid Atlanta volunteers make improvements at Rockdale County home for homeless families
On March 8, HomeAid Atlanta brought volunteers from BankSouth Mortgage to Phoenix Pass, located in Conyers, for a HomeAid Care Day. HomeAid offers Care Days, workdays to provide much-needed facility maintenance and repairs, to nonprofit organizations that serve people experiencing homelessness or at risk for homelessness. HomeAid Care Days are provided free-of-charge or at extremely low cost to organizations like Phoenix Pass, which serves women and their minor children experiencing temporary homelessness by giving them an opportunity to reestablish self-sufficiency in a residential setting.
The work performed at this Care Day saved Phoenix Pass approximately $2,500 thanks to the work of BankSouth Mortgage volunteers! This lively and energetic group made quick work of needed tasks at Phoenix Pass including planting additional trees for a safety barrier from the road, sanding and prepping metal stair railings for painting, and installing and organizing shelving in a storage unit.
Every HomeAid Care Day provides significant savings through the work of volunteers and donations of materials. These savings go directly to help people like “Angela,” a recent Phoenix Pass graduate, by providing supportive programs and services. Angela was a single mom with three teenagers and nowhere to go. While at Phoenix Pass, she sought counseling for depression. She made a plan to turn her life around and worked hard to follow it exactly. She found two jobs and saved over $10,000. Her son was able to get his driver’s license and help with household finances by working part-time. He graduated high school and is now in college. Angela believes that she was able to keep her family together because of stable housing and parenting classes provided during her time at Phoenix Pass.
HomeAid built all the housing units now utilized by Phoenix Pass to help struggling moms like Angela. There were no shelter beds in Rockdale County prior to HomeAid’s collaboration with Phoenix Pass. With the two eight-unit apartment buildings and community center in between, there are now 96 beds for mothers and their children experiencing homelessness in Rockdale County! In addition to the major building projects, HomeAid has completed several other Care Days like this one over the years.
“Where would Phoenix Pass be without HomeAid Atlanta? Nowhere! What an incredible organization! Thank you shall never be enough for all HomeAid has done for our organization,” said Jean Yontz, Executive Director of Phoenix Pass.
HomeAid Atlanta is a nonprofit organization founded in 2001 that builds new lives for homeless families and individuals through housing and community outreach. HomeAid builds, renovates, and maintains facilities for nonprofits serving people experiencing homelessness. HomeAid Atlanta has completed over 120 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 Atlanta is the designated charity of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association. Learn more at www.homeaidatlanta.org.