Details:
To help local homeless families overcome their housing crises and return to self sufficiency by providing short term transitional housing in combination with an individualized support program including mentoring, money management and life skills development.  To address this growing need, volunteers formed the ministry HELPFUL within the North Fulton Community Charities.  Charter members of HELPFUL traveled extensively throughout the USA, studying the foundations of various transitional housing programs.  Taking the best elements of each, HELPFUL and North Fulton Community Charities joined forces to establish the founding principles upon which HomeStretch operates today.

The Roswell Presbyterian Church was the first organization to become involved with the HomeStretch mission, generously paying a year’s rent for the first HomeStretch family.  By 1994, HomeStretch was incorporated and had earned 501c(3) nonprofit status.  During this time, HomeStretch had grown to manage homeless families in five residencies.  The agency purchased and renovated these housing properties through governmental assistance and community donations. Volunteers accomplished nearly all the work in these early years as HomeStretch had only one part-time worker to manage each client enrolled in the program.  

Today, HomeStretch currently owns and operates 25 single family residences. HomeStretch has trained social workers that work directly with families and over 1,200 caring citizens that commit their time and energy each year to ensure the success of our clients. The work of HomeStretch and its supporters has been recognized by various foundations and the community at large. In the summer of 2000, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development rewarded HomeStretch with its Award of Excellence as one of the top 100 community housing organizations in the United States.
 

Volunteer Opportunities:
Mentors are always needed for the families in the HomeStretch programs. If you can volunteer as a family mentor, a budget advisor, or a team coordinator, contact Susan Busch at 770/594-9202, susanwbusch@att.net, or Dottie Akin at 770/998-3346, dkakin960@bellsouth.net, for more details.

Volunteers are needed for renovations and refurbishment of the housing properties. If you are interested and have some construction skills, contact Ralph Iler at 770/591-4001, ramailer2@bellsouth.net, to offer your time and energy. Ralph will be able to tell you what the project schedule is and what skills are required for the jobs.