Several Atlanta companies held office-wide drives and fundraising contests that yielded approximately $8,000 for the purchase of even more Essentials Drive items, as well as provided operational support for the event. Thank you to the following companies and everyone across metro Atanta who donated to this year's drive!

Our 21st Annual Essentials Drive distributed diapers and baby wipes to 20 metro Atlanta nonprofits that serve young families experiencing or at risk of homelessness. One of this year’s participating nonprofits, Rainbow Village, provides help, hope, housing, and healing for families experiencing homelessness. With 21 children ages four years and younger currently residing at Rainbow Village, they were in great need of the Essentials Drive donations.

Memorial Day celebrations are incomplete without saluting the dedicated soldiers who sacrificed their lives for our country. As we prepare for get-togethers with friends and cookouts on the lake, let’s remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Every veteran deserves dignity and respect. Often, the veterans who do return home after wars and conflicts face unemployment, homelessness, and a range of mental health challenges. In 2021, over 100,000 veterans experienced homelessness on any given night nationwide. HomeAid believes that every veteran deserves dignity and respect, and we should do more to care for them. HomeAid Atlanta is currently working with the Cherokee County Homeless Veterans Program in Canton to create emergency and long-term/transitional housing for 40 veterans. Nationwide, HomeAid chapters have completed more than 50 projects exclusively for veterans experiencing homelessness.

This Memorial Day, let us remember and honor the bravery and sacrifice of those who gave all, and pledge to honor and care for veterans who are still with us.

Breakthru House, Decatur: Two new homes: one for single women recovering from substance abuse, and one for women and children. This project would add 20 beds for short term/transitional living for up to nine months as clients complete their recovery.

MUST Ministries, Marietta: As part of a project to consolidate all of MUST’s services onto one campus, HomeAid Atlanta is completing interior spaces within MUST's newly built admin building.

Contact HomeAid Atlanta Executive Director Mandy Crater for more details: 678.775.1401 or mandy@homeaidatlanta.org.

Each year, millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental illness. During May, Mental Health Awareness Month, HomeAid Atlanta joins the national movement to raise awareness about mental health and homelessness.

An estimated 20 to 25 percent of the U.S. homeless population suffers from severe mental illness, compared to 6 percent of the general public. The combination of mental illness, substance abuse, and poor physical health makes it difficult to maintain employment and residential stability. For families and individuals struggling to pay rent, dealing with health issues of any kind can start a downward spiral into homelessness. An hour-long traditional therapy session can range from $65 to $250 for those without insurance. For people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, prioritizing mental health services could seem impossible compared with paying rent and buying food.

This year, one of HomeAid Atlanta's major focuses is learning how we can impact affordable housing. Building and maintaining affordable housing keeps people housed. We have worked on some affordable housing projects with our service provider partners in the past, but we're now trying to find ways to increase the affordable housing stock. We are working closely with our partners at the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association to create educational opportunities for builders, reach out to municipalities to figure out ways to increase housing opportunities in their jurisdictions, and meet with other nonprofits. We are working to establish an affordable housing task force to better understand barriers to affordable housing and make a positive impact.

Now, with rent prices hitting record highs across the country, we are calling on our friends and supporters' experience and expertise to help us explore how the home building industry can ensure that everyone can afford a safe place to call their own. Please contact us if you are interested in getting involved with our efforts to make a difference in affordable housing!

Thank you to Chris Knight and DRB Homes!

On May 12, The Interior Partners had their crew pack a truck full of furniture donations (shown here) for our new construction project at Gateway Domestic Violence Center, where we're adding 55 beds for women fleeing domestic violence. Design2Sell Interiors & Home Staging, who is donating their services and additional furnishings, arrived later that day to take some measurements to help decorate a Teen Counseling Room and a family lobby/living space - to make this a true haven for women and their children escaping domestic violence.

Registration opens JUNE 1, 2022.