• 44% of all Americans are only one paycheck away from homelessness.
• Over 15% of the Fulton County population is living below the poverty line.
• During this year, approximately 3,250 families with dependent children will be
  homeless in Fulton County. Of these families, 812 are located in the North
  Fulton community.
• Only 6% of the North Fulton population is aware that homelessness exists in the
  North Fulton area.
• The median household income in the North Fulton area is $103,190 (vs. the national
  average of $61,579). In comparison, the typical household income of North Fulton
  low-income families is approximately $21,000.
• Minimum wage workers must work 109 hours per week to afford an average 2
  bedroom apartment in the Metro Atlanta area.

Minimal homeless assistance programs exist in the North Fulton community. Currently, HomeStretch is the only agency in the North Fulton area that not only addresses homelessness through long-term transitional housing and an educational program, but also can serve two-parent families, single-dad families and single-mom families. Most homeless shelters are located in downtown Atlanta and do not provide long-term, comprehensive programs to reverse the homeless cycle.

However, there is a strong demand for transitional housing in North Fulton County. The average income of the North Fulton area is $103,190 (vs. the national average of $61,579). In comparison, the typical income of North Fulton low-income families ranges from $18,000-$24,000. According to the Metro Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless, these minimum wage workers must work 109 hours per week to afford an average 2-bedroom apartment in the Metro Atlanta area. Consequently, there is a shortage of affordable housing for working families with low incomes. HomeStretch provides transitional housing in addition to an individualized support program so that working, homeless families can become self-sufficient once again.

(Information obtained from the Fulton County 2000 Census and the Metro Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless.)