Action Ministries housing programs.
Georgia-based Action Ministries offers a number of housing services, including financial aid and counseling, to help alleviate and prevent homelessness. The non-profit agency operates in various counties and towns in the state. Examples of these services include transitional housing, emergency financial support, and permanent housing.
The organization's transitional housing program supplies temporary homes for homeless families and helps these families develop the self-sufficiency needed to find permanent housing. This resource was designed for families with children. As resources allow, the program provides stability and safety as well as extensive case management services to help ensure lasting success. Clients in the transitional housing program will receive assistance to increase income, advance their education levels and help them move into permanent housing.
According to Action Ministries, the transitional housing aims to end homelessness. It does this by providing single-family homes to homeless families for up to two years in cities such as Atlanta and other towns. The program also helps parents find and maintain employment. Furthermore, case managers help families address barriers to self-sufficiency and independence through comprehensive, individualized coaching.
Action Ministries' supportive housing program aims to prevent homelessness altogether. The program serves a few communities that are particularly vulnerable to homelessness: veterans and individuals with HIV/AIDS.
Clients of the supportive housing receive financial assistance or cash grants to help foster a move into their own apartments, with case management services provided to help sustain such housing for at least a year. The program helps clients access community resources and gain sufficient income to pay the rent in order to maintain housing on a long-term basis.
Supportive Services for Veteran Families, or SSVF, works to eliminate homelessness among veterans and their families. Participants in the program receive assistance in creating a sustainable housing plan and accessing community services and benefits, both in Georgia and federal resources.
Case management services that are part of SSVF include housing counseling, mediation with property owners, house searching, utility setup, budgeting assistance and job placement assistance. In addition, eligible veterans receive temporary financial assistance to help with paying rent, security deposits, utilities, childcare, moving costs and transportation, among other expenses.
HOPWA, or Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS, meanwhile, provides aid to individuals with HIV/AIDS who are facing homelessness. Clients of Action Ministries receive short-term assistance, or maybe a loan, to help with rent, mortgage and utility payments, and the program helps to ensure that clients maintain their housing for at least a year. Clients will also receive help accessing community resources and increasing income in order to maintain housing over the long term.
Action Ministries' permanent supportive housing program in Fulton and other counties such as Richmond provides stable housing, case management and other necessary resources for homeless people living with disabilities. Although the program recognizes that some disabled individuals need indefinite financial and relational support, it helps such individuals live as independently as possible. Low income qualified clients receive assistance in maintaining their housing for at least a year, accessing mainstream benefits and disability coverage, and building a sense of community with other residents.
The non-profit organization notes that disabled people comprise more than 40% of the homeless population in the United States. Action Ministries adds that many members of the disabled homeless population rely on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments or SSDI. These benefits may provide an income 44% below the federal government poverty level. As such, these individuals struggle to retain permanent housing or gain access to needed services.
A low income apartment or home under the permanent supportive housing program is available at one of Action Ministries' residence communities, which include Maxwell House in Augusta or Welcome House in Atlanta. Long-term case management designed to educate and empower residents is offered at these communities, and on-site service partners provide free healthcare, counseling, community-building activities, and mental health services.
Moreover, clients can access mainstream benefits and disability coverage, and are encouraged to complete 15 activity hours per week for health and community-building purposes.
Other emergency and long term services provided by Action Ministries include the following. They support several regions, includng Cobb, Richmond, Floyd, and Fulton County, among other areas.
- Emergency financial assistance to prevent homelessness and utility disconnection, using a combination of grants and cash aid.
- Personalized case management focused on problem solving to prevent future crises and, if applicable, referrals to needed community resources.
- A Families in Action program that challenges vulnerable or working poor families to develop long-term strategies to achieve self-sufficiency.
- A White Christmas event that provides free toys, food, meals and other necessities to low-income families in Georgia. A free sack lunch or meal program that provides weekend food for homeless women and children.
Self-sufficiency, including educational opportunities, such as General Equivalency Diploma (GED) courses. The non-profit may pay for the GED testing fee coverage; technology and financial literacy training; individualized mentoring programs, and also math and reading tutoring.
Day care and other programs for children living in homeless shelters that offers after-school, evening, weekend and summer educational and enrichment activities. The goal is to help them foster academic success and long term self-esteem.
Apply for help from Action Ministries
For more information regarding any of the aforementioned services, contact Action Ministries. The organization has offices in many Georgia cities, including Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Gainesville and Rome. Call 404-817-7070 or (888) 206-7372.
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