HomeAid Atlanta Announces Partnership with Rainbow Village to Build Transitional Housing for Homeless Families

Duluth, GA – HomeAid Atlanta, in partnership with Rainbow Village and Builder Captain Harcrest Homes, announced today the construction of an apartment building for Rainbow Village, a long-term transformational housing community for homeless families in north metro Atlanta.  HomeAid Atlanta, a nonprofit organization that builds dignified transitional housing for temporarily homeless families and individuals, has joined forces with Harcrest Homes to build Rainbow Village’s third, six-unit apartment building, adding approximately 36 beds for families in need.  Each apartment at Rainbow Village includes three bedrooms, kitchen, living room, and two bathrooms. 

Building commencement is expected in October as part of Phase II of Rainbow Village’s “Building Strong Communities…One Family at a Time” three-phase campaign.  When complete, the campus will consist of a 30 - family “Village,” including a community center, family service center, and administrative offices.  Phase I was completed in April 2012.

Rainbow Village CEO, Rev. Nancy Yancey says, “Rainbow Village is thrilled to be partnering with HomeAid and Harcrest Homes on this project.  I can’t think of a better way to utilize shared resources and community effort in a meaningful way that will be helpful to generations of homeless families with children in the years to come.”

Mike Smith of Harcrest Homes has generously donated his time to lead the construction effort and trade partners (i.e. suppliers, framers, electricians, etc.) are currently being recruited to assist with construction.  Harcrest Homes, a long-term member of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association and Certified Professional Home Builder, has a strong history of supporting philanthropic efforts.

“HomeAid Atlanta is honored to partner with Rainbow Village.  Rainbow Village is an exemplary transitional housing organization, led by an extraordinarily committed leader, Rev. Nancy Yancey.  As the housing industry continues to improve, we believe its members are ready to resume volunteer and material donation efforts, as Harcrest Homes has charitably shown.  What better way for the housing industry to give back to the community than through building homes for those who need time to rebuild their lives?” said Jean Hilyard, Executive Director for HomeAid Atlanta.

The mission of Rainbow Village is to transform lives of homeless families with children in North Metro Atlanta through a community based transitional housing program that promotes self-sufficiency.  The vision is to be a national model of an educational holistic approach to breaking the cycles of homelessness, poverty and domestic violence.  HomeAid Atlanta and Harcrest Homes are excited to assist Rainbow Village in their outstanding effort to assist families in need. 

About HomeAid Atlanta:

Founded in 2001, HomeAid Atlanta is a 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. HomeAid acts as the housing developer and liaison between homeless service providers, builders, trade partners and community donors and volunteers.  To date, HomeAid Atlanta has completed 16 housing developments that serve the temporarily homeless, including victims of domestic violence, teen mothers, abused and abandoned children, and homeless families.  Additionally, over 20 community service projects have been completed through our HomeAid Cares program, assisting ten local agencies with free repairs and upgrades valued at over $200,000 for their facilities that serve the homeless.  For more information about HomeAid Atlanta, visit www.homeaidatlanta.org.  

About Rainbow Village:

Rainbow Village is a transformational housing community for homeless families with children. Most of the heads of households at Rainbow Village are women fleeing lives of domestic violence and poverty. They are not just seeking a safe place to live but also the opportunity to craft a new life for themselves and their children. Rainbow Village has set in motion a true "village" model where homeless families can find refuge, recover, and learn to rebuild their lives with the support of a community-based family surrounding them. Rainbow Village doesn't just provide a quick fix in times of crisis but offers a long-term program that includes support services for the whole family including life skills training, character building, counseling, career development, after-school programs, financial education, and more. The goal is to break the cycles of homelessness, poverty and domestic violence by teaching adults and children to believe in themselves again, to chart a new course, and to work a plan that enables them to once again be self-sufficient.

About Harcrest Homes:

Harcrest Homes has been awarded over 90 prestigious awards including the coveted America’s Best Builder from the National Association of Home Builders and Builder Magazine. In 2000, Harcrest Homes received the Lee Evans Award for Business Management Excellence. In 2007, they received the Customer Satisfaction Award from the Certified Professional Home Builder. Harcrest Homes is a member of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association and a Certified Professional Home Builder.  Harcrest Homes has assisted on several HomeAid Atlanta projects.