Atlanta New Homes News

HOMEAID ATLANTA GEARING UP FOR 2012 ESSENTIALS FOR YOUNG LIVES® DRIVE

11th annual drive to benefit homeless moms and babies, April 30 – May 7

ATLANTA – March 28, 2012 – HomeAid Atlanta announced today its 2012 Essentials for Young Lives® Drive will take place April 30 – May 7 in honor of Mother’s Day.  The 11th annual drive is a community-wide effort to collect “essential” baby items for homeless mothers and their infants.  Items being collected include diapers, baby wipes, baby food, formula and baby hygiene products, all in an effort to provide aid to one of the fastest growing segments of the homeless population – women with children.

Everything collected through the drive will be distributed by HomeAid to local nonprofit organizations serving homeless families and children in the metro Atlanta area.
 
Businesses, community organizations and individuals are invited to participate in the drive by collecting essential baby items from amongst their employees, customers, members, friends and families.

Donations of new items can be dropped off at any of the designated drop-off sites located around the metro Atlanta area, including HomeAid’s office in Tucker. A list of drop-off sites is available online at www.homeaidatlanta.org/dropoff. Donations can also be made online through HomeAid Atlanta’s baby registry at Target.com. To access the registry, enter “HomeAid” for the registrant’s first name and “Atlanta” for the last name.  All donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

To date, nearly 30 local companies and organizations have committed their support to the 2012 Essentials for Young Lives Drive, including The Atlanta Academy, Atlanta Remodelers Council, Atlanta Sales & Marketing Council, Back to Back Chiropractic, Bank of America, Boral Bricks, Brock Built, CBRE, CharterBank, Coldwell Banker NRT Development Advisors, Dunwoody Baptist Church, Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, Guaranty Mortgage, I-Design, IIDA Student Chapter of the Art Institute of Atlanta, John Willis Homes, LoanSouth Mortgage, Mast Custom Woodworks, Monte Hewett Homes, O’Kelley & Sorohan, Oneida Builders, Physiotherapy Associates – Lenox, Smyrna Community Center, State Bank & Trust Company, SunTrust, Technology Dependent Intensive Care Unit at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta-Scottish Rite Campus, Upper Cervical Health Centers of America, and Weissman, Nowack, Curry & Wilco.  Many of these partners have already started collecting items for the drive.

Atlanta-based UPS is joining hands with HomeAid Atlanta for the sixth year to assist with delivering all the donated items to seven local nonprofit organizations that provide housing and supportive services to homeless families and young children.  These organizations operate facilities that have been built in partnership with HomeAid Atlanta and include Decatur Cooperative Ministry (Decatur), Genesis – A New Life (Atlanta), HomeStretch (Roswell), My House (Canton), Phoenix Pass (Conyers), Tapestry Youth Ministries (College Park and Fairburn) and The Drake House (Roswell).  The items will be delivered just before Mother’s Day, providing critical support to these organizations and the mothers and babies they serve.

The Essentials for Young Lives Drive was first launched in Atlanta in 2002, and since then more than 300,000 essential baby items have been distributed to homeless mothers and their babies. As the growth in homeless families increases the demand for homeless services, the need for essential baby items continues to grow.  This Mother’s Day, it is HomeAid’s desire to honor and celebrate mothers by ensuring they are given the tools to provide for their children’s needs.
 
To learn more about the 2012 Essentials for Young Lives Drive, visit www.homeaidatlanta.org/dropoff or contact HomeAid Atlanta at 678-775-1401.


About HomeAid Atlanta:Founded in 2001, 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. HomeAid acts as the housing developer and liaison between homeless service providers, builders, trade partners and community 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.

For more information about HomeAid Atlanta, visit www.homeaidatlanta.org. 

HOMEAID ATLANTA ANNOUNCES AWARD WINNERS

Awards honor Builder of the Year, Trade Partner of the Year and Volunteer of the Year

 

ATLANTA – Jan. 24, 2012 – On Jan. 19, HomeAid Atlanta announced the recipients of its sixth annual awards during the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association’s Installation and Awards Program at Cobb Galleria.  Awards were presented for Builder of the Year, Trade Partner of the Year and Volunteer of the Year.  These awards honor organizations and individuals demonstrating great commitment to HomeAid Atlanta and its mission of building and maintaining dignified housing where homeless families and individuals can rebuild their lives. 
 
The three award recipients were:
• 2011 Builder of the Year – John Cooper, Cooper Homes
• 2011 Trade Partner of the Year – Jeff Woodman, Woodman Insulation
• 2011 Volunteer of the Year – CBRE, Inc.

 

The award recipients are knowledgeable and passionate about HomeAid Atlanta’s mission, are committed to improving Atlanta’s homeless crisis and have given generously of their time and talents in their respective roles.

 

“It was truly a privilege to honor these three organizations and individuals for their kindness and dedicated service,” said Carl Riden, president of HomeAid Atlanta. “Their support has been a tremendous asset in helping us continue fulfilling our mission of building hope for today’s homeless.”

 

The HomeAid Atlanta Builder of the Year Award honors a devoted builder advocate of HomeAid Atlanta. John Cooper, the 2011 award recipient, has been an active supporter of HomeAid for several years.  He has participated in numerous HomeAid Cares projects to assist local service providers with repairs and upgrades to their facilities serving the homeless.  He is also a contributor to HomeAid’s Essentials for Young Lives® Drive, helping to provide necessities to homeless moms and their babies.  As the president and founder of Cooper Homes, he began building in the Atlanta area in 1982.  He is an active member of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association and has been a member of the Certified Professional Home Builder program since 2003. 

 

The HomeAid Atlanta Trade Partner of the Year Award honors an extraordinary non-builder partner of one or more of HomeAid Atlanta’s projects.  The 2011 award recipient, Jeff Woodman, has been involved with HomeAid Atlanta for many years, donating insulation and other services for several HomeAid shelter projects.  In addition, his company has regularly participated in one of HomeAid’s annual fundraisers, the Fairway to Haven® Golf Classic.  He is the president of Woodman Insulation, a company that has been providing the metro Atlanta area with professional insulation services since 1986. The company’s solid reputation and superior customer service under Woodman’s leadership has helped make them one of the premiere insulation companies in the Southeast.

 

The HomeAid Atlanta Volunteer of the Year Award is presented to a group of HomeAid’s dedicated volunteers for their outstanding service. CBRE, Inc., the 2011 award recipient, has partnered with HomeAid to organize two Care Day projects in conjunction with the company’s annual “Get Out and Give Back” BuildMonth. Through these projects, CBRE volunteers assisted with making repairs and improvements at two local facilities serving the homeless.  The company also supports HomeAid’s Essentials for Young Lives® Drive, participating in the collection of essential supplies for homeless babies.  CBRE, Inc. (formerly CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc.) is a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company headquartered in Los Angeles, and is the world’s largest commercial real estate services firm (in terms of 2010 revenue).

 

The award winners were nominated by HomeAid Atlanta’s board of directors and staff, and selected based on their service and commitment to HomeAid Atlanta and its mission.

 

About HomeAid Atlanta:
Founded in 2001, 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. HomeAid acts as the housing developer and liaison between homeless service providers, builders, trade partners and community 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. For more information about HomeAid Atlanta, visit www.homeaidatlanta.org.

BANK OF AMERICA PARTNERS WITH HOMEAID ATLANTA FOR SERVICE PROJECT TO ASSIST LOCAL HOMELESS FAMILIES

ROSWELL, GA – Oct. 20, 2011 – On October 14, a group of 23 local Bank of America Community Volunteers teamed up with HomeAid Atlanta, a nonprofit organization that builds housing for the homeless, for a HomeAid Cares project benefiting HomeStretch, a nonprofit organization serving homeless families.  Through this service project, volunteers successfully assisted HomeStretch with improvements and maintenance around their Roswell property, all in an effort to help the organization continue providing safe and comfortable housing to homeless families in the north Fulton area.

 

HomeStretch owns and operates 20 units at this site to provide transitional housing to homeless working families for up to 24 months.  During the HomeAid Care Day, Bank of America volunteers participated in a variety of activities around the property, including landscaping, painting, and preparing one of the units for a new family to move in.

 

Bank of America Georgia Market President Geri Thomas commented, “Bank of America Community Volunteers make a difference in our communities one hour at a time, making opportunity possible in support of essential nonprofit organizations across our state.  Volunteering is core to our company’s strategy and culture, supporting our objective to act as an economic engine in our local communities.”

 

The project in Atlanta is one of five HomeAid Care Days being conducted around the country in October through a national partnership with Bank of America.  In addition to Atlanta, projects are taking place with HomeAid chapters in the following locations: Houston, TX; Orange County, CA; Sacramento, CA; and Seattle, WA.  For the past seven years, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation has played a critical role in HomeAid’s efforts to change the lives of thousands of homeless Americans.  This new volunteer initiative expands the partnership, giving Bank of America associates a hands-on opportunity to give back to their local communities.

 

HomeAid Cares is a program designed to provide a facelift to housing developments serving the temporarily homeless. Through this program, HomeAid organizes groups of volunteers to complete “done-in-a-day” repair-type projects.  The program is a great resource for homeless service providers as it offers free assistance with cosmetic upgrades and minor repairs to their facilities. The program helps to ensure that these facilities remain an asset to the community over time so they can continue serving those in need for years to come.

 

HomeAid Atlanta has a long-standing relationship with HomeStretch, having worked with the organization since 2006 to completely renovate six of the duplexes and townhomes for their program in partnership with several local home builders and their trade partners.
 

 

About HomeAid Atlanta:

 

Founded in 2001, 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. HomeAid acts as the housing developer and liaison between homeless service providers, builders, trade partners and community 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. For more information about HomeAid Atlanta, visit www.homeaidatlanta.org
 

 

Bank of America Corporate Philanthropy:

 

Building on a long-standing tradition of investing in the communities it serves, Bank of America is delivering on a 10-year goal to donate $2 billion to nonprofit organizations engaged in improving the health and vitality of their neighborhoods. Funded by Bank of America, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation gave more than $200 million in 2010, making the bank one of the largest corporate cash donors in the United States. As a global company serving clients through operations in more than 40 countries, Bank of America approaches investing through a national strategy under which it works with local leaders to identify and meet the most pressing needs of individual communities. Reaffirming a commitment to develop and sustain a culture of service, bank associate volunteers contributed more than one million hours in 2010 to enhance the quality of life in their communities worldwide. For more information about Bank of America Corporate Philanthropy, please visit www.bankofamerica.com/foundation
 

 

About HomeStretch:

 

HomeStretch guides homeless working families with minor children in north metro Atlanta toward increased self-reliance and stability by providing life-skills training, mentoring and supportive housing. Today, the agency owns and operates 24 single-family residences.  HomeStretch has trained social workers who work directly with the families and more than 800 caring citizens who commit their time and energy each year to ensure the success of the organization’s clients. The work of HomeStretch and its supporters has been recognized by various foundations and the community at large. In 2000, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded HomeStretch its Award of Excellence as one of the top 100 community housing organizations in the United States. For more information about HomeStretch, visit www.homestretch.org

HOMEAID ATLANTA ANNOUNCES NEW BOARD MEMBERS

HomeAid Atlanta, a nonprofit organization that builds housing for the homeless, is pleased to announce the appointment of three new members to its board of directors: Dale Boyd of State Bank & Trust Company, Kevin Clark of Beazer Homes and Eugene James of Metrostudy.  

“We are delighted to welcome these new members to our board of directors,” noted Dan O’Dwyer, president of HomeAid Atlanta and also president of O’Dwyer Homes.  “They bring to our board an incredible range of knowledge, influence and unique perspectives that will be tremendous assets to our leadership team as we strive to continue building hope for today’s homeless.” 

Dale Boyd is the senior vice president of homebuilder finance at State Bank & Trust Company.  With 30 years of experience in the banking industry, she has been in residential real estate lending since 1993, working with several respected financial institutions.  Prior to that, she worked in commercial lending.  Boyd is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a B.S. in Finance.  

Kevin Clark has been a division president with Beazer Homes since 2006.  He moved to the Atlanta area in 2009 from Ft. Myers, Florida.  Prior to joining Beazer Homes, he held executive management positions with Ashton Woods Homes, Taylor Morrison and Ryland Homes.  Clark is a graduate of Purdue University with a B.S. in Building Construction Technology.  

Eugene James is the director of the Atlanta region for Metrostudy, a national market intelligence company that specializes in monitoring the residential new construction industry. He has 25 years of real estate experience and has been called one of the most influential people in residential real estate by the Atlanta Business Chronicle and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.  He currently serves as an executive board member for the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association and is co-owner of a brokerage company. James received a B.S. in Business Management from the University of the District of Columbia. 

These three new members join 11 others on HomeAid Atlanta’s board of directors.

About HomeAid Atlanta:Founded in 2001, 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. HomeAid acts as the housing developer and liaison between homeless service providers, builders, trade partners and community 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. For more information about HomeAid Atlanta, visit www.homeaidatlanta.org. 

 

HOMEAID ATLANTA ANNOUNCES 2011 ESSENTIALS FOR YOUNG LIVES® DRIVE

ATLANTA – April 4, 2011 – HomeAid Atlanta announced today its 2011 Essentials for Young Lives® Drive will take place April 25 – May 2 in honor of Mother’s Day.  The 10th annual drive is a community-wide effort to collect “essential” baby items for homeless mothers and their infants.  Items being collected include diapers, baby wipes, baby food, formula and baby hygiene products.  Everything collected through the drive will be distributed to local nonprofit organizations serving homeless families and children in the metro Atlanta area. With women and children being among the fastest growing segments of the homeless population, the need for these essential baby items is great.

 

Businesses, community organizations and individuals are invited to participate in the drive by collecting essential baby items amongst their employees, friends and families.  Donations of new items can be dropped off at any of the Essentials drop-off sites located around the metro Atlanta area. A list of drop-off sites is available online at www.homeaidatlanta.org/dropoff. Donations can also be made through HomeAid Atlanta’s baby registries at Babies “R” Us and Target. To access the registries, enter “HomeAid” for the registrant’s first name and “Atlanta” for the last name.  All donations are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law.

 

More than 20 local companies and organizations have already joined hands with HomeAid Atlanta to collect items for the 2011 Essentials for Young Lives Drive, including Align the Spine Wellness Center, The Atlanta Academy, Atlanta Remodelers Council, Atlanta Sales & Marketing Council, Bank of America, Boral Bricks, CB Richard Ellis, CharterBank, Coldwell Banker NRT Development Advisors, Dunwoody Baptist Church, Evolv, Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, John Willis Homes, Lincoln Property Management Company, Mast Custom Woodworks, MetLife Home Loans, Northwest Exterminating, Oneida Builders, Purdy Real Estate, State Bank & Trust Company, SunTrust, Technology Dependent Intensive Care Unit at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta-Scottish Rite Campus, Upper Cervical Health Centers of America and Weissman, Nowack, Curry & Wilco. 

 

Atlanta-based UPS is teaming up with HomeAid Atlanta for the fifth year to assist with delivering the donated items to seven local nonprofit organizations that provide housing and supportive services to homeless families and young children.  These organizations operate facilities that have been built in partnership with HomeAid Atlanta and include Decatur Cooperative Ministry (Decatur), Genesis – A New Life (Atlanta), HomeStretch (Roswell), My House (Cherokee County), Phoenix Pass (Conyers), Tapestry Youth Ministries (College Park and Fairburn) and The Drake House (Roswell).

 

Recipient organizations greatly value the support.  “The Essentials for Young Lives are just that...they are the items that the children we care for simply can’t do without.  Because these ‘essentials’ are provided by this wonderful drive, we can stretch our evermore limited funds to other important areas.  The love that comes with these items lets us all know that people do care and want to help give these little ones what they so deserve.  Thank you for caring about them,” said Donna Carson, executive director for My House.

 

Essentials for Young Lives was first launched in Atlanta in 2002 and since then more than 240,000 essential baby items have been distributed to homeless mothers and their babies. As the growth in homeless families increases the demand for homeless services, the need for essential baby items continues to grow.  This Mother’s Day, it is HomeAid’s desire to honor and celebrate mothers by ensuring they are given the tools to provide for their children’s needs.

 

For more information about the 2011 Essentials for Young Lives Drive, visit www.homeaidatlanta.org/dropoff or contact HomeAid Atlanta at 678-775-1401.

 

About HomeAid Atlanta:

 

Founded in 2001, 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. HomeAid acts as the housing developer and liaison between homeless service providers, builders, trade partners and community 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. For more information about HomeAid Atlanta, visit www.homeaidatlanta.org.

O’Dwyer Homes’ Employee Runs to Raise Money and Awareness for HomeAid Atlanta

On Saturday, September 11, 2010, Eileen Walton, Director of Sales for O’Dwyer Homes, ran to raise money and awareness at the Green Awareness 5K Run/Walk sponsored by the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association and the Georgia Tech School of Construction. A portion of the proceeds will benefit HomeAid Atlanta.

 

HomeAid Atlanta is a charity that is very dear to O’Dwyer Homes. Dan O’Dwyer, President of O’Dwyer Homes was elected as President for HomeAid Atlanta by the Board of Directors for the 2010 – 2012 terms. HomeAid is the designated charity of the Greater Atlanta Homebuilder’s Association. It is a nonprofit organization that builds and renovates transitional housing facilities that serve homeless families and individual in metro Atlanta.

 

Dan has been involved with HomeAid Atlanta for several years.  In 2006, he generously served as HomeAid’s Builder Captain for The Drake House project, renovating 16 apartments for homeless families in Roswell, GA.  He later joined HomeAid’s Board of Directors in 2009.

 

For more information on O’Dwyer Homes and to learn more about their outstanding new home communities, please visit them on their Website at www.odwyerhomes.com or call 770-887-2177.

ESSENTIALS FOR YOUNG LIVES DRIVE HELPS HOMELESS BABIES

ATLANTA – May 18, 2010 – HomeAid Atlanta recently hosted its ninth annual Essentials for Young Lives Drive, April 26 – May 3.  The drive, a community-wide effort to collect essential items for homeless infants and toddlers in the metro Atlanta area, was held to coordinate with Mother’s Day again this year. Through the drive, more than 37,000 essential baby items such as diapers, baby wipes, baby food, formula and other baby products were successfully collected. All items collected were distributed to local shelters that serve homeless families and young children, helping many moms and their babies receive basic necessities which they urgently need.

 

Businesses and organizations throughout the metro Atlanta area joined hands with HomeAid Atlanta to collect items during the Essentials for Young Lives Drive this year, including The Atlanta Academy, Atlanta Marketing Concepts, Bank of America, Boral Bricks, Cofer Brothers, Coldwell Banker NRT Development Advisors, Cooper Elementary, Core-Mark, Decatur-DeKalb YMCA, Dunwoody Baptist Church, Evolv, G. Cecil Pruett Community Center Family YMCA, Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, IIDA Student Chapter of the Art Institute of Atlanta, John Willis Homes, Kimberly Clark Corporation, Lincoln Property Management Company, McCleskey-East Cobb Family YMCA, MetLife Home Loans, Metro Atlanta YMCA, Northeast Cobb Family YMCA, Northwest Exterminating, Oneida Builders, Parmenter Realty Partners, Pulte Homes, Salon and Spa Venéssa, SunTrust, Technology Dependent Intensive Care Unit at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta-Scottish Rite Campus, Weissman, Nowack, Curry & Wilco P.C., along with many other companies and individuals.

 

On May 5, a group of volunteers gathered to help HomeAid sort and count the items collected.  Then, on May 6, just a few days before Mother’s Day, Atlanta-based UPS assisted HomeAid Atlanta in delivering the essential items collected to seven local shelters serving homeless families and children. The drive beneficiaries included Decatur Cooperative Ministry (Decatur), Genesis – A New Life (Atlanta), HomeStretch (Roswell), My House (Cherokee County), Rockdale Emergency Relief (Conyers), Tapestry Youth Ministries (College Park & Fairburn) and The Drake House (Roswell).  With women and children being one of the fastest growing segments of the homeless population, the donated items were a welcomed sight, providing critical support to these shelters and the families they serve.  In addition to supporting these shelters through the Essentials for Young Lives Drive, HomeAid Atlanta has also assisted in the construction of transitional housing for each of these programs.

 

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 the photo:
“Essentials Sorting” - A dedicated group of volunteers gathered to assist HomeAid Atlanta with sorting and counting the items collected through the 2010 Essentials for Young Lives Drive in preparation for delivery to local shelters serving homeless moms and babies.

Sandy Andrew is one of HomeAid Atlanta's newest members

She is now on the Board of Directors for HomeAid Atlanta.

 

Founded in 2001, HomeAid Atlanta is a nonprofit organization that builds and renovates multi-unit transitional housing facilities for homeless service agencies serving homeless families and individuals in the metro Atlanta area. HomeAid Atlanta is the designated charity of 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 mission of HomeAid Atlanta is to build and maintain dignified housing where temporarily homeless families and individuals can rebuild their lives. This is accomplished through generous donations of construction services and materials from members of the homebuilding industry.

 

HomeAid Atlanta strives to improve the conditions of Atlanta's temporarily homeless families and individuals by focusing on increasing capacities at local transitional housing facilities, providing more homeless children, women and men with an opportunity to restore their lives. Transitional housing provides the temporarily homeless with safe, dignified living environments that blend into neighborhoods and offer life and job skills training programs promoting self-sufficiency.

 

Click here for more information >>

Dedication Ceremonies Announced for Two Shelter Projects

HomeAid Atlanta is pleased to announce the dedication ceremonies for two shelter projects which are near completion. 

 

The Tapestry Youth Ministries duplex project in College Park will be dedicated on Tuesday, March 30.  As you may remember, this project involved the complete renovation of a duplex which will serve homeless teen moms and their babies.  The project began last April when volunteers from the Building Owners and Managers of Atlanta (BOMA-Atlanta) participated in an extensive HomeAid Care Day at the duplex.  Following the Care Day, dozens of trade partners generously teamed up with HomeAid Atlanta to help complete the renovations.
 
The Phoenix Pass project in Conyers will be dedicated in mid-April.  Phase one of this project includes the construction of an eight-unit apartment building and a lighthouse community center which will serve homeless families in the Conyers/Rockdale County area.  HomeAid Atlanta, in partnership with Manor Homes and Horizon Home Builders, broke ground on the Phoenix Pass complex last July.  The project brings a unique offering to the Rockdale County community: the first transitional housing opportunities for local families in need.  The project was made possible in large part due to a generous construction grant from the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, in addition to tremendous support from many local trade partners.

 

Learn more at www.homeaidatlanta.org

HOMEAID ATLANTA ANNOUNCES 2009 AWARD WINNERS

Awards recognize HomeAid Atlanta Builder Supporter of the Year, Trade Partner of the Year and Volunteer of the Year

 

ATLANTA  – On Jan. 13, HomeAid Atlanta announced the recipients of its fourth annual awards at the Installation and Awards Reception of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association at Villa Christina in Atlanta.  Awards were presented to the HomeAid Atlanta Builder Supporter of the Year, Trade Partner of the Year and Volunteer of the Year.  The awards honor individuals demonstrating outstanding commitment to HomeAid Atlanta and its efforts to build supportive, transitional housing for homeless children, women and men in the metro Atlanta area. 

 

The three award recipients were:

• Dan Mattox of Builders II – 2009 Builder Supporter of the Year
• Mitch Hires of Construction Resources, Inc. – 2009 Trade Partner of the Year
• Dina Gundersen of Monte Hewett Homes & Creative Thunder Design – 2009 Volunteer of the Year 

 

The award winners are all knowledgeable and passionate about HomeAid Atlanta’s mission of building and maintaining dignified housing where temporarily homeless families and individuals can rebuild their lives; are committed to improving Atlanta’s homeless crisis; and have given generously of their time and talents in their respective roles.

 

“We are so pleased to be able to honor these individuals for their dedicated service to HomeAid Atlanta,” said Dan O’Dwyer, president of HomeAid Atlanta. “Each of the award winners has made a significant impact on the success of our organization and we are thankful for the opportunity to recognize their good works.  It is with the support of people like these that we are able to continue fulfilling our mission of building housing for the homeless.”

 

The HomeAid Atlanta Builder Supporter of the Year award recognizes a devoted builder advocate of HomeAid Atlanta. The 2009 award recipient, Dan Mattox, has been involved in various roles with HomeAid Atlanta over the past six years. He is a member of HomeAid Atlanta’s board of directors and has participated in transitional housing construction projects in Decatur and College Park. He also served as a playhouse builder for HomeAid Atlanta’s signature annual fundraiser, Project Playhouse®, in 2008.  A third generation builder, Mattox is the co-owner of Builders II.  He and his business partner have been building homes in the Atlanta area since 1972 and have received numerous awards for their new homes and renovations in the Buckhead area.

 

The HomeAid Atlanta Trade Partner of the Year award honors an extraordinary non-builder partner in one or more HomeAid Atlanta transitional housing developments. Mitch Hires, the 2009 award winner, has generously donated and installed a combination of kitchen countertops, cultured marble vanity tops, sinks, mirrors and wire shelving for five transitional housing projects over the past four years. He has also regularly participated in two of HomeAid Atlanta’s annual fundraisers, Project Playhouse® and the Fairway to Haven® Golf Classic. Hires is the co-owner of Construction Resources, Inc., a 39-year-old Atlanta-based company that provides residential and commercial builders/remodelers, as well as homeowners, with a one-stop shop for specialty construction products such as natural stone tile, countertops, fireplaces, tubs, glass and mirror products, and garage doors.

 

The HomeAid Atlanta Volunteer of the Year award is presented to one of HomeAid’s dedicated volunteers for his or her outstanding service. The 2009 award recipient, Dina Gundersen, has been actively involved with HomeAid Atlanta for several years. She has shared her marketing expertise to provide promotional support for HomeAid Atlanta’s Project Playhouse®.  She is also an original member of HomeAid’s Essentials for Young Lives Drive committee, assisting with the organization, marketing and implementation of the annual drive to collect baby supplies for homeless infants and toddlers. A professionally trained graphic designer, Gundersen has been the director of marketing for Monte Hewett Homes for the past six years, managing all of the marketing, advertising, social media and websites for the local custom homebuilding company. She is also the owner of Creative Thunder Design, a marketing, design and interactive company.

 

The three winners were nominated by HomeAid Atlanta’s board of directors and staff, and selected based on their service and commitment to HomeAid Atlanta and its mission.

 

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.

HOMEAID CARE DAY HELPS NEW LIFE BEGINNING MATERNITY HOME

Volunteers complete needed home repairs during service project

 

Lithonia, Ga. – On October 23 and 24, more than 20 volunteers participated in a HomeAid Care Day in partnership with HomeAid Atlanta, a nonprofit organization that builds and maintains housing for the temporarily homeless. The two-day service project took place at New Life Beginning Maternity Home in Lithonia, a transitional home which serves up to five homeless pregnant teen girls between the ages of 12-17. Much-needed repairs and maintenance were completed at the home during the Care Day, providing a safer and more dignified environment for the young girls living there. The Care Day was held in conjunction with the 19th annual Make a Difference Day, a national day of helping others which was created by USA WEEKEND Magazine.  

 

The Associates Council of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association (HBA) served as the team captain for the project, assisting with organizing volunteers and gathering supplies to complete needed repairs to the home. During the HomeAid Care Day, volunteers participated in a variety of activities including repairing and staining the screen porch, deck and fence; replacing damaged doors; pressure washing; and landscaping, among other things. 

 

“It was heartwarming to see so many people come together, sharing their time and talents to make a difference in the community and in these young girls’ lives,” said Heather Bounds with Northwest Exterminating, and also the 2009 chair of the HBA’s Associates Council.  “The Care Day was a wonderful success and we were proud to partner with HomeAid Atlanta to help New Life Beginning Maternity Home.” 

 

The following companies generously partnered with HomeAid Atlanta to make the HomeAid Care Day at New Life Beginning Maternity Home a great success: CCM Homes, Cooper Homes, Garcia Constructores, Manor Homes, North Fulton Pest Solutions, Northwest Exterminating, O’Dwyer Homes, Principal Financial Group, Pulte Homes, The Columns Group, University of Phoenix, and Via Viridis, as well as several community volunteers. In addition, Atlanta Peach Movers, First Fence of Georgia, Magbee Contractors Supply, and The Home Depot Foundation generously donated needed supplies for the project. 

 

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 New Life Beginning Maternity Home:

 

New Life Beginning Maternity Home is one of only two maternity homes in Georgia.  Their mission is to provide a nurturing, residential care program for expectant teenage girls that empowers and prepares them for productive, independent, meaningful and responsible lives in their communities after giving birth.  Resident teen mothers are able to continue their schooling and develop life skills while enhancing their post-pregnancy support system.  New Life generally serves 10-12 young mothers per year.  New Life was named Group Home of the Year by Emory’s GEMS program.

 

Bottom Left: Volunteer Ninette Randall of Pulte Homes helped clean up vines removed from the fence.

Bottom Right: Volunteer Julio Garcia of Garcia Constructores assisted with repairing the fence.

HOMEAID ATLANTA ANNOUNCES GRAND OPENING OF PROJECT PLAYHOUSE® 2009

Sixth annual playhouse fundraiser premieres at The Avenue Forsyth on Sept. 19

 

ATLANTA – Sept. 10, 2009 – On Saturday, Sept. 19, HomeAid Atlanta’s sixth annual signature fundraiser, Project Playhouse®, debuts at The Avenue Forsyth in Cumming, Ga. The grand opening celebration for this highly-anticipated event begins at 11 AM with a ribbon cutting ceremony, followed by a variety of kid-friendly fun, including complimentary face painting, balloon art and a live Radio Disney broadcast. Admission is free, and guests will be among the first to see the three extraordinary child-size dream homes on display. In addition, the first 100 children to visit the Playhouse Village on opening day will receive a goody bag filled with items donated by local businesses.

 

Project Playhouse 2009 includes a charming nautical cottage by Traton Homes, a cozy mountain lodge by Dan DeJiacomo Custom Homes, and a miniature replica of Georgia Tech landmark Tech Tower by a group of students from the Georgia Tech College of Architecture in partnership with Dovetail Homes.  Each custom-built playhouse is fully furnished by a professional interior designer and exquisitely appointed with details such as built-in bookcases, beaded board paneling, hardwood floors, custom woodwork, and flat screen televisions.

 

Following the grand opening, the playhouses will remain on display at The Avenue Forsyth until Oct. 10. Each playhouse will be awarded to a lucky winner through a raffle drawing. All proceeds from Project Playhouse benefit HomeAid Atlanta’s mission of building and maintaining dignified housing for temporarily homeless families and individuals in the metro Atlanta area.

 

“We are delighted to participate in HomeAid Atlanta’s Project Playhouse as it gives us an opportunity to use our artistic capabilities in a unique way to give back to the community,” said Dan DeJiacomo, owner of Dan DeJiacomo Custom Homes. “With our involvement in this event, we are not only able to help homeless families in need, but we are also able to fulfill the imaginations of children.”

 

The Playhouse Village, located near Coldwater Creek at The Avenue Forsyth, is open for public viewing on weekends from Sept. 19 – Oct. 10, Saturdays 11 AM to 7 PM and Sundays noon to 6 PM. On weekends, Project Playhouse volunteers will be on site selling raffle tickets, hosting children’s activities and offering attendees the opportunity to peek inside the playhouses. Admission to the Playhouse Village is free!

 

Raffle tickets for an opportunity to win each playhouse can be purchased:

 

- At the Playhouse Village in The Avenue Forsyth

 

- Weekends from Sept. 19 – Oct. 10, Saturdays 11 AM – 7 PM and Sundays noon – 6 PM

 

- At The Avenue Forsyth’s management office located next to Justice

 

- Weekdays from Sept. 14 – Oct. 9, Monday – Friday 9 AM – 5 PM

 

- Online at www.homeaidatlanta.org or by calling HomeAid Atlanta at 678.775.1401 until Oct. 9

 

The raffle drawing for each playhouse takes place on Oct. 10 at 7 PM at the Playhouse Village. Ticket holders do not have to be present to win. Raffle ticket prices are as follows: 1 ticket for $3.00; 2 tickets for $5.00; 4 tickets for $10.00; 10 tickets for $20.00 and 30 tickets for $50.00.

 

For more information, contact:  Haley Livingston, HomeAid Atlanta, 678.775.1401, [email protected]

 

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 The Avenue®:

 

The Avenue, introduced by Cousins Properties Incorporated in 1998, is an outdoor lifestyle center concept with eight locations throughout the Southeast.  The Avenue offers a dynamic mix of premier national retailers, select local merchants and specialty restaurants reflective of local demand and fashion trends.  The shopping destination features an open-air, pedestrian friendly setting convenient to major metropolitan areas.  Shoppers can visit The Avenue at one of its five metro Atlanta locations, or in suburban Nashville, Tenn., suburban Memphis, Tenn. or Viera, Fla.  For more information about The Avenue, please visit www.shoptheavenue.com.

 

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Run, Give, September

The Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association and the Georgia Tech College of Architecture Building Construction Program are joining together for a Green Awareness 5K Run/Walk to benefit HomeAid Atlanta. HomeAid Atlanta is a nonprofit organization that builds and renovates transitional housing facilities that serve homeless families and individuals in the metro Atlanta area.

So lace up...you'll get more than just exercise! Register here or see race details below

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009
Georgia Tech Student Center
350 Ferst Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia
Race Day Check-In: 7 a.m.
Adult Race Begins: 8 a.m.
Children’s Race Begins: 9 a.m.

Questions? Call 678-775-1465 or email [email protected].