College Park, Ga. – On April 24, more than 120 volunteers organized by the Building Owners and Managers of Atlanta (BOMA-Atlanta) participated in a service project in partnership with HomeAid Atlanta, a nonprofit organization that builds housing for temporarily homeless families and individuals. The one-day service project, known as a HomeAid Care Day, took place at a College Park duplex owned by Tapestry Youth Ministries, also a nonprofit organization. The duplex will ultimately serve as transitional housing for homeless young mothers and their children; however, extensive renovations are required before it can be utilized for this purpose. The HomeAid Care Day marked the kick-off for renovations to the duplex, with BOMA-Atlanta volunteers participating in various construction-related tasks led by volunteer Tim Thomas, president of Double T Contracting Inc.
“We were proud to partner with BOMA-Atlanta for this HomeAid Care Day,” said Ann Carey, executive director for HomeAid Atlanta. “What the BOMA volunteers were able to accomplish in one day was truly amazing. Thanks to their help, we have made significant progress in renovating the duplex and are well on the way to providing a home for young moms who have no place to turn and need extra support.”
Representing the commercial real estate industry, with members including building owners, property managers, facility managers, building engineers and allied-member vendors in service to the industry, BOMA-Atlanta served as the team captain for the HomeAid Care Day, organizing volunteers from member companies and gathering necessary supplies. Activities performed by volunteers during the HomeAid Care Day included removing flooring, faucets, roof shingles, exterior siding, light fixtures and appliances; installing a new roof and new light fixtures; pressure washing; painting; carpentry and drywall repairs; inspecting the HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems; and cleaning up and enhancing the landscaping, among other things. Renovations to the duplex are being completed by HomeAid Atlanta over the next several weeks in preparation for the first residents to move in this summer.
“In these trying times, people have to dig a little deeper to help and take time to give back to others in need,” said Susan K. McKeever with Engle Martin & Associates, chair of the 2009 BOMA-Atlanta Community Service Committee. “It has been a pleasure to see BOMA-Atlanta and HomeAid come together for the good of our community. BOMA-Atlanta’s Community Service Committee is second-to-none, and the planning and execution of the HomeAid Care Day was a huge success for all involved. It is truly rewarding to see people sharing their talents for the good of these young mothers.”
When renovations are complete, the duplex will be operated by Tapestry Youth Ministries, serving young mothers between the ages of 18-23 who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless and have no more than two children. Tapestry currently operates two Second Chance Homes for homeless teen mothers between the ages of 14-17 and is committed to providing a safe, structured, nurturing environment where these mothers and their babies can experience quality home life and positive development. The organization places these young women on a path toward self-sufficiency.
The renovated duplex will provide a home for young mothers who have graduated from one of Tapestry’s Second Chance Homes (due to age restrictions), but who are not ready to live completely on their own. To live in the duplex, the mothers must have a job and will be required to take on basic household responsibilities such as setting up their utility services, cooking, cleaning and paying a nominal rental fee. This program is designed to prepare the young mothers for living fully independently.
HomeAid Atlanta has a long-standing relationship with Tapestry Youth Ministries. In 2005, HomeAid Atlanta, in partnership with Mayfield Homes and The Knight Group, constructed Tapestry’s Second Chance Home in Fairburn, which serves six homeless teen mothers and their children. HomeAid Atlanta will also be building eight new duplexes for Tapestry’s program in the near future.
About BOMA-Atlanta:
The Building Owners and Managers of Atlanta is Atlanta’s premier commercial real estate association, representing one of the largest industries in metropolitan Atlanta. BOMA membership includes building owners, property managers, facility managers, building engineers and allied-member vendors in service to the industry. BOMA’s mission is to lead the commercial real estate community to enhance the professionalism and value of members through education, advocacy, community involvement, membership participation and the open exchange of ideas. Our members are responsible for more than $135 million in annual tax revenues to the City of Atlanta and counties in the metro Atlanta area and are responsible for the ownership/management and administration of over 150 million square feet of office space, and additional millions of square feet of facilities throughout the metro Atlanta area. For more information about BOMA-Atlanta, visit
www.boma-atlanta.org or call 404-475-9980.
About HomeAid Atlanta:
HomeAid Atlanta is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working in partnership with the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, and is a local chapter of HomeAid America, a leading national provider of transitional housing for the temporarily homeless. The HomeAid mission is to build and maintain dignified housing where homeless families and individuals can rebuild their lives. This is accomplished through the donation of construction services and materials from members of the homebuilding industry. HomeAid Atlanta partners with existing homeless service providers and expands their capacity to serve the homeless by building a new transitional housing facility or renovating an existing facility. For more information about HomeAid Atlanta, visit
www.homeaidatlanta.org.
About Tapestry Youth Ministries:
Tapestry Youth Ministries is a nonprofit organization established to provide for young girls living in either unsafe or unstable environments. In operation since 1999, Tapestry has focused its efforts and resources on establishing Second Chance Homes for teen mothers between the ages of 14-17 and their children who are at risk for homelessness. Second Chance Homes provide a safe, structured and caring environment in which the mothers and their children can live together. Each mother is provided supportive housing, intensive case management, parenting and child development training, and childcare services. Tapestry operates Second Chance Homes in College Park and Fairburn and is part of the State’s Second Chance Home network which is managed by the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (G-CAPP). The purchase of Tapestry’s duplex was made possible through funding from a Fulton County Community Development Block Grant. For more information about Tapestry Youth Ministries, visit
www.tapestryyouth.org.
Photo Captions:
HomeAid Care Day 1 (top photo): More than 120 BOMA-Atlanta volunteers participated in the HomeAid Care Day on April 24.
HomeAid Care Day 2 (bottom photo): BOMA-Atlanta volunteers participated in a variety of tasks during the HomeAid Care Day, including enclosing the opening created by the removal of the chimney.
Additional photos available upon request.
