SEPTEMBER 2018  This Month’s Happenings: Celebrating the Non-Profit Leader of the Year Roswell BBQ in the Burbs Coming Soon Tales of a Graduate CBS46 Three Degree Guarantee Networking and Leis Take Me Out to the Braves Game #ATD with UGA Alumni Lowe’s Helps Our Apartments Shine A Staff that Reads Together, Serves Together Thank You to These Volunteer Groups Celebrating the Non-Profit Leader of the Year And we have a winner! On August 28, Rose Burton, Executive Director of HomeStretch, was awarded the Nonprofit Leader of the Year award by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce. This honor was created to honor nonprofit leaders for their extraordinary contributions to the community on behalf of their organizations. It’s an incredible recognition. The Chamber sees the award as a tribute to the talent, dedication, and success of the leaders who serve the community with compassion and professionalism. “On behalf of the HomeStretch Board of Directors, staff, clients  and community, we thank Rose for her service and for making HomeStretch and our community a better place.”         Congratulations to Rose on this well-deserved recognition! Roswell BBQ in the Burbs Coming Soon Fall is in the air and so is the smell of smoked BBQ. Join HomeStretch at our annual BBQ in the Burbs on October 28 on the grounds of Roswell City Hall. The event will include some of the best BBQ in the area, beverages, and entertainment, including a Kids Zone and tunes from the band The Free. So make plans to mingle with your neighbors and raise funds to support the HomeStretch mission. While we hope for a beautiful day, the event will go on rain or shine. Also, we’re still looking for sponsors. This popular event will provide prime visibility for your business to those in Roswell and beyond. More details, sponsor packets, and ticket purchases are available at Roswell BBQ in the Burbs. Tales of A Graduate HomeStretch success stories don’t happen overnight. It takes time and hard work for our families to stabilize their employment and finances. One of our soon-to-be graduates, Jocelyn, has done that hard work. Immediately after her divorce, she was earning too little to pay for daycare, rent, and transportation.  After working to stay afloat, she found herself facing homelessness. HomeStretch helped Jocelyn get her life back on track. She repaid debt, increased her credit score substantially, and secured a better-paying, full-time job with benefits at Northside Hospital where she now works as a Front Office Assistant. One of the tangible ways HomeStretch helped Jocelyn is through our mentor program. We celebrate Jocelyn’s hard work and success, and look forward to keeping in touch with her, and her college-bound son after she graduates from HomeStretch this fall. She now uses the knowledge gained from her mentors to keep track of her monthly spending using her bank’s app. This way, if she gets close to her set limit, she receives an email notification and can make adjustments to stay on budget. Congratulations to Jocelyn and her family and we wish them all the best in the next step of their journey! CBS46 Three Degree Guarantee In August, all of HomeStretch kept our eyes on the weather. Thanks to the recommendation of a mother-daughter team from Roswell National Charity League, our organization was the recipient of local channel CBS46’s Three Degree Guarantee program. The NCL duo was in our community to prepare an apartment for a new family. After volunteering, they went home singing the praises of the work done by HomeStretch. Their husband and father, a CBS46 employee, recommended us as the Three Degree Charity of the Month. How does the program work? CBS46 has a history of the most accurate weather forecast and is the only station guaranteeing their forecasts. Each day, the station compares the actual high temperature to the one predicted by their meteorologists. When the temperature gap is three degrees or less, the station donates to their selected charity for the month. Thanks to NCL and CBS46 for your donation of time and money in August! Check out this fun video! Read more about this generous program here: CBS46 Three Degree Guarantee for Charity. Networking and Leis Joan O’Connell and board member Kendra Plotkin joined over 500 Chamber of Commerce representatives from the Greater North Fulton, John’s Creek, Alpharetta, and Gwinnett Chambers for an evening of networking and partner expansion at the Multi-Chamber Luau on August 14th. The power of partnership is one of the ways we continue our mission and to serve the families here in our community. Take Me Out to the Braves Game A big thank you to the Atlanta Braves players and coaches for giving our families a wonderful Sunday Funday on August19th! The Braves Foundation generously provided 25 tickets for our families to see the Atlanta Braves take on the Colorado Rockies. From Section 148, HomeStretch enjoyed stadium snacks and root-root-rooted for the home team. Though the tickets were an amazing donation, the best gift was the time spent with family and the memories made. Thank you to the Atlanta Braves and Chop On! #ATD with UGA Alumni When over 50 Bulldawgs come to volunteer, you know they’re going to live by Coach Smart’s now famous hashtag #ATD (Attack the Day)! On Saturday, August 18, the Red and Black came out to give of their time and make a difference for the families of HomeStretch. From cleaning to landscaping, these proud alumni tackled each job with enthusiasm and hustle. Thank you for coming to #ATD with us! Lowe’s Helps Our Apartments Shine HomeStretch is grateful to The Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation for a grant award of $38,000 that will help us renovate up to nine apartments this year. When families exit the program, teams of volunteers help get the units ready for the next residents. This process includes painting, repairing, and replacing outdated appliances, water heaters, as well as other equipment, all of which will be covered under the grant. Thank you to Lowe’s for your partnership and support to end homelessness in

Congratulations To Rose Burton NonProfit Leader of the Year On August 28, 2018, Rose Burton, Executive Director of HomeStretch, was awarded the NonProfit Leader of the Year by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce.  This award was created to honor nonprofit leaders for their extraordinary contributions on behalf of their organizations. GNFCC states this award is a tribute to the talent, dedication, and success of the leaders who serve the community with compassion and professionalism. “On behalf of the HomeStretch Board of Directors, staff, clients and community, we thank Rose for her service and for making HomeStretch and our community a better place.”    Congratulations on a well-deserved award! Sincerely,

AUGUST 2018  This Month’s Happenings: A Look Back at HomeStretch History Mentors Have a Chance to Learn from a Pro Save the Date for Roswell BBQ in the Burbs! Why We LOVE ATLANTA Happy Campers Cheering for The Dream New Board Members It Takes a Team Thank You to These Volunteer Groups A Look Back at HomeStretch History For 25 years HomeStretch has worked to BREAK the CYCLE of homelessness and empower parents and children to overcome their past and START FRESH! How do we do this? By giving them the time and tools they need to rebuild their lives and move forward. Our goal is not just to help the parents but to empower all members of the family. “When a family’s needs are met, kids have a stronger support system and are more likely to have better attendance, stay on track, and meet high expectations for academic achievement… Additionally, if we engage and create lasting, systemic changes they will not only break the cycle of poverty, they will transform those communities for generations to come.”        Stephanie McLemore Bray and Thomas Bennett,         The Sacramento Bee, March 6, 2017 How do we know HomeStretch is succeeding? By looking at our children, who – 1. Go to College: This year, one resident graduate is going to Stanford University! Others are going to college, trade schools, or joining the military. 2. Succeed in School: In 2018 we expanded our in-house tutoring program. Now, professional tutors and counselors help our kids be even more successful. 3. Lead: Resident children participate in North Fulton Youth Leadership, school committees, church groups, sports, and civic clubs, to name a few. 4. Give Back: Children who were part of our program are growing up and giving back to the community. Most recently we had 3 former HomeStretch youth come volunteer with us. Talk about testimony that we can BREAK THE CYCLE! Mentors Have a Chance To Learn from a Pro Recently, HomeStretch invited its mentors, sponsors, and volunteers who work directly with our families to a special workshop led by The Workplace Therapist, Brandon Smith. Brandon is a leadership and workplace communication expert and teaches at both the Emory University Executive MBA Program as well as the Georgia State University Professional MBA Program. He used his expertise to help the group explore tools that lead to effective lasting connections, with a focus on affecting change using influence and persuasion. His material was relevant, challenging, and full of good humor. During the session, the group also reviewed material from The Mentoring Manual by Julie Starr and participated in active break out groups focused on typical, but often difficult, challenges faced by those who work directly with HomeStretch residents. This rewarding event was possible because of a generous grant from Friends for Life Foundation, Inc, part of Phi Phi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.  The Friends for Life Foundation’s mission is to support quality of life improvements for the disadvantaged in North Fulton. Thank you FFL for the gift of education for those who work so closely with our families! Also, special thanks to North Point Community Church for offering your facility for the workshop. Want to learn more about our guest speaker? Brandon has his own podcast! He can be found at The Brandon Smith Show every Sunday at 9:30 pm on Facebook Live, and on his website at www.theworkplacetherapist.com. Save the Date for Roswell BBQ in the Burbs! The annual HomeStretch BBQ in the Burbs event has a new location! Join us Sunday, October 28 on the front lawn of Roswell City Hall. We’ll have great BBQ provided by some local favorites, beverages, music from the band The Free, a kids zone, and more! And the best part is you’ll help raise funds to support the HomeStretch mission. Don’t miss this community-wide party. Please note, we’re also looking for sponsors. With its central location, this event will provide visibility for your business to those in Roswell and beyond. More details, sponsor packets, and ticket purchases can be found at Roswell BBQ in the Burbs. Why We LOVE ATLANTA Last month, LOVE ATLANTA contacted HomeStretch through Passion City Church to pour out their time and love onto our residents during two amazing days of service. At the end of every volunteer day, we ‘re always left with a feeling of thankfulness, but this group left us with a little more – a beautiful letter. In it, the volunteer leader expressed the group’s feelings about how HomeStretch knows ‘what it means to genuinely love a city by serving the people who live in it’. This was the ultimate compliment and we’re so glad the volunteers of LOVE ATLANTA were able to feel the passion we have for service. Thank you to LOVE ATLANTA and to Passion City Church for your time and talents. We look forward to partnering up again soon to serve our community! Happy Campers Once again, HomeStretch mentors Matt and Beth Tanzy invited 10 HomeStretch kids to a very special overnight camp, Camp Lighthouse. The kids spent two nights and three days around campfires, swimming in the lake, hiking, making crafts, and having a great time. This is such a gift for the HomeStretch kids and we are grateful to the Tanzys as well as the Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church youth group for taking special care of our families with this summer highlight. Cheering for The Dream Hannah Jones, the HomeStretch Youth Case Manager, was busy this summer scheduling academic tutors, camp programming, and planning Youth LifeSkills. However some of her job was just plain fun. Hannah secured a partnership with Most Valuable Kids, an organization that connects sporting event ticket donors to underserved children and families in Atlanta. Hannah and some of our families had a great time cheering the Atlanta Dream to a one-point victory on July 15th. What a treat! New Board Members July begins the new fiscal year for HomeStretch, marking the time we welcome new members to the Board of Directors. We’re happy to welcome Leslie Carruth, Cheryl Greenway, Byron Harbin, Martica Jenkins, Gabriel Orthous, and Peggy Shipman.

JULY 2018 This Month’s Happenings: A Look-back at HomeStretch History Celebrating Families and Hard Work Tutors Prevent Summer Slide Homelessness & Youth Can You Help Send Our Kids Back to School? Save the Date for Roswell BBQ in the Burbs! Publix Believes in Community Giving! Welcome Sandy Springs Christian Church Thank You to These Volunteer Groups Calendar A Look-back at HomeStretch History Celebrating Families and Hard Work On Tuesday, June 19 HomeStretch honored both current and graduate families at our annual Family Celebration at Dunwoody United Methodist Church. Over 150 people came together to share hugs, shed a few tears, and celebrate success. We also honored two high school graduates who plan to attend college in the fall: one at Augusta State University and one at Stanford University.   This year’s theme, Turning Points, gave several families and mentors the opportunity to share moving experiences and stories of hard work: Current resident Suzanne pointed out the kindness HomeStretch extends to participants. “You think your family will always be there to help you but sometimes they can’t,” she explained. “It’s wonderful when that help comes from HomeStretch.” Program participant Tonya knows all about hard work. When she arrived at HomeStretch her credit score was 452. After paying significant debt, it’s now a healthy 709! “My financial and mental health have improved at HomeStretch,” Tonya shared. “And I’m proud of my son who will attend college at Augusta State in the fall.” “By mentoring, I learned helping a family was just loving them, not saving them,” says current HomeStretch mentor Carolyn. “I’m blessed by this opportunity.”   Even former graduates like the Rhodes family were happy to help celebrate. They found it encouraging to hear others’ stories, see old friends, and meet new ones, too! The Rhodes’ remarked that the day reminded them of their accomplishments and encouraged them to continue establishing new goals and reaching for their dreams. Over the course of this year, HomeStretch served 31 families. 14 graduating families are now in stable housing. These graduate families are the heart of the HomeStretch mission and certainly worth celebrating! Tutors Prevent Summer Slide All students, especially low-income children, are vulnerable to ‘summer slide’, where academic skills developed during the school year are forgotten during the summer break. HomeStretch hopes to combat this risk with an active summer tutoring program. Recently, we sat down for a Q&A with HomeStretch Youth Case Manager Hannah Jones to talk about the value of summer tutoring: Q: Why is HomeStretch investing in summer tutoring? A: We want to provide extra support for our families and help prevent summer slide. This will hopefully set the kids up for success during the upcoming school year. Q: What age are the children you’re working with? A: We serve 2nd-12th grades in both reading and math. Q: What have you observed in the sessions that you thought was positive? A: I’ve enjoyed watching the tutors and students build a relationship. It helps the kids academically, but also boosts their self-confidence and self-esteem. Q: Are we still actively looking for new tutors? A: We will definitely need more tutors during the school year. If you’re interested, email me HERE. Did You Know… that homelessness can have a devastating effect on youth, emotionally and academically? Can you help send our kids back to school? HomeStretch children have a long list of supplies they need to get back to school and ready to learn. Plan to help by providing any of these items. Elmer’s glue, Crayola crayons and colored pencils, Flash drive, Paper towels, Spiral notebooks, Graph paper, Pocket folders, Fiskar scissors. Click HERE To See A List of Needed Items Save the Date for Roswell BBQ in the Burbs! The 2018 Roswell BBQ in the Burbs, benefiting HomeStretch, will be held on Sunday, October 28 on the front lawn of Roswell City Hall. Join us for great BBQ, beverages, music, kids zone – and raising funds to support the HomeStretch mission. You won’t want to miss this community-wide party. More details to follow soon. Publix believes in Community Giving! When Publix Super Markets founder George Jenkins was asked what he would be worth today if he hadn’t given so much away, he immediately responded, “Probably nothing.” His incredible legacy of giving continues at HomeStretch today. We are grateful to Publix and Publix Super Markets Charities for supporting HomeStretch in the following ways: Peachtree Tea Sponsor Food donor for the HomeStretch Food Pantry Publix Serves Day where Publix associates volunteered on our property Publix is a prime example of bringing your service mission to life. Thank you! Welcome Sandy Springs Christian Church We’re excited to announce our newest partner, the Sandy Springs Christian Church (SSCC) as a Family Unit Sponsor. Sponsoring an apartment for a homeless family at HomeStretch is one of the most meaningful investments an organization can make, an investment the church’s outreach committee believes in. In addition to their financial support, SSCC will also provide a financial mentor and family mentor to help the residents of their unit reach a place of stability.  As for the unit itself, SSCC has big plans to transform it into a home by providing furnishings, with special attention toward making it ‘warm and fuzzy’. SSCC’s mission to ‘Connect, Inspire, and Serve’ makes their partnership a great fit for all, helping us meet our ultimate goal – permanent housing and lasting stability for each family we serve. We welcome SSCC to our family of community partners! Property Volunteers Intradiem The Well – Roswell Presbyterian Church Mount Pisgah Vacation Bible School Synchrony St. James United Methodist Church Passion City Church YMSL – North Fulton Chapter Program Volunteers Dunwoody United Methodist Church Milton National Charity League Roswell/Alpharetta National Charity League Howard Flint Save The Date Sunday October 28th  “Roswell BBQ in the Burbs” Benefiting HomeStretch 2:00-6:00PM – Roswell City Hall Lawn Sincerely,   Rose J. Burton Executive Director

JUNE 2018  This Month’s Happenings: Inspired to Action HomeStretch Families All Smiles Changing Lives with AutoGift Blessed Trinity Seniors Getting It Done Keller Williams Team Sees RED Thank You to These Volunteer Groups Calendar Inspired to Action HomeStretch is excited to welcome our newest community partner and family unit sponsor – newly established 501(c)(3) nonprofit 2×4.Life. Inspired by the Bible verse Philippians 2:4, which urges us to not only look out for our own interests, but to take an active interest in others as well, 2×4.Life’s mission is to strengthen and support families within the community. 2×4.Life was born from a men’s group that meets on Tuesday nights at Moondog Growlers in Dunwoody – where they discuss families, sports, current events, and matters of faith. “One night, we decided that we’d been talking enough about our beliefs, and that it was time to do something about it,” recalls member Chris Turner. Their belief that a strong family provides a stronger foundation for life led them to HomeStretch. Now, members of 2×4.Life are already in the process of rehabbing their sponsored unit and they plan to be active participants in mentoring the family that will soon call the unit home. We’re excited about this partnership that will give both 2×4.Life and HomeStretch the opportunity to realize their mission of guiding struggling families to stability and a better life.  Welcome! HomeStretch Families All Smiles Professional photographer Lorikay Stone was busy with HomeStretch families this past Spring. First, she shot photos for Roswell Life Magazine May/June Issue featuring HomeStretch. Then, she volunteered her time and talent to take pictures of every HomeStretch family, providing prints as a Mother’s Day gift for each of the mothers in the program. Lorikay said she had great fun with the families and we’re grateful. When asked why she offered to do the Mother’s Day photo shoot for HomeStretch, Lorikay shared a little of her own story. “Growing up in a single parent family, I know how hard it is to afford some of the extras like family photos.” She remembers how exciting it was when her family went to Kmart for family photos. Those images are a treasure that her family can share with future generations. “I am happy to be of service and help HomeStretch’s families have this same opportunity. I enjoy capturing and preserving those moments that celebrate who the family is as a unit. I never want money to get in the way of that.” Thank you to Lorikay! To learn more about Lorikay, check out her website: Lorikay Stone Photography Changing Lives with AutoGift   Imagine navigating daily life – work, school, errands, appointments – as a single mom with no car. This challenge is often a reality for the mothers in the HomeStretch program and transportation is complicated. Car loans for low-income families often carry big interest rates, using cabs or other ride sharing services is expensive, and riding public transportation in North Atlanta is disjointed and cumbersome. That’s why our new partnership with AutoGift is changing lives. AutoGift gives single mothers with minor children who currently have no access to a car, the gift of a safe, reliable, debt-free automobile as a resource to enhance their quality of life. AutoGift’s decision to partner with HomeStretch was based on our extensive applicant vetting process and hands-on approach to guiding the residents in the program. As candidates move through HomeStretch, their lives are stabilized, making them well-qualified candidates for the AutoGift program. The validation that they’re financially able to have the gift of a car makes it a blessing and not a burden. “AutoGift is a niche program designed specifically to fill a particular need for disadvantaged single moms,” explains AutoGift’s founder, Bill Kilinski. “We know what we do and we stick to it so we will not lose focus and effectiveness. Our hope is that a safe, reliable car will give moms the ability to care for their family and expose their kids to areas and activities outside their zip code.” This month, two HomeStretch families were blessed with donated cars from AutoGift. Their big smiles say it all. And, what makes this story even sweeter is one of those cars was donated to AutoGift by a HomeStretch mentor! “It’s a true blessing,” says Bridget, who received the mentor-donated car. “The sense of peace as I drive to and from work, drive to the grocery store, and take my girls places again, empowers me in ways you would not truly understand unless you have lived without reliable transportation. I thank God for HomeStretch, AutoGift, and the Hardy family who made it all possible.” If you would like to donate a car to AutoGift, contact Angela Agel, Director of Operations, at 678-777-3010. Blessed Trinity Seniors Getting It Done What do you get when you mix 250 seniors and a desire to serve the community?  The Blessed Trinity Class of 2018!  We were proud to have their group on property for a meaningful day full of hard work and fun. From painting, to light demo projects, the students made a huge impact on both our property and the lives of our families.  We want to thank these remarkable young men and women and wish them all the best as they take the next steps in their journey! Keller Williams Team Sees RED On May 10th, Joanne Curtin’s Roswell-based Keller Williams Realty Consultants team celebrated Keller Williams RED Day with HomeStretch. RED Day (Renew, Energize, and Donate) is a national initiative that celebrates Keller Williams Realty’s year-round commitment to improving local communities. Each year associates participate in projects that renew and energize aspects of their neighborhoods.  The Curtin Team hosted an ice cream social for the HomeStretch children and team members played games after school with the kids. Thanks to the entire Curtin Team for your generosity! Property Volunteers Piney Grove Middle School Girl Scouts Troop #13463 – Bronze Award Project Huron Consulting Calendar Save The Date Sunday October 28th  “Roswell BBQ in the Burbs” Benefitting HomeStretch 2:00-6:00PM – Roswell City Hall Lawn Sincerely,

MAY 2018  This Month’s Happenings: HomeStretch Impacts Families! Paying it Forward Welcome Hannah Jones INTERVIEW: Reflections from a Graduate Best Foot Forward Interviewing Thank You Volunteers HomeStretch Impacts Families! In the past few months, we’ve shared our story with you as we celebrate our 25thyear serving the families of North Fulton. So far you’ve heard: Why we were founded in 1991 and incorporated in 1993. How the lack of affordable housing in our community causes rent-burdened families to be at risk of homelessness. The story of our founding mothers and fathers who brought their vision to fruition. Here’s a closer look at how the vision translates into results today: Paying it Forward: The 17th annual Choate Construction Run the River 10K/5K benefitting HomeStretch was held on Saturday, April 14th at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Roswell.  It was another huge  success because of a special team that makes it all come together. We offer a big thank you to: Lead sponsor, Choate Construction. Your support is the foundation of this race each year! The Road Race committee, chaired faithfully by our very own, Steve Buck. St. Andrew Catholic Church for generously providing the great race location. Our sponsors, scores of volunteers, and all of our wonderful donors. You all help make this event possible. Thank you! Among the more than 1,400 runners who participated, one group of participants stood out, not because of the birthday tiaras that adorned their heads, but because of their special act of generosity. Roswell resident Leslie Renee Briscoe-Andrews chose to celebrate her 50th birthday by counting her many blessings and paying it forward. Leslie Renee celebrates her birthday every April by giving back to a cause in the community. This year’s search for a cause led her to HomeStretch. Leslie Renee recalls that when she came across Run the River, she knew it was the right one for her. It checked all of the boxes – she loves the Roswell community, it’s an activity that her mother, sister, and their children could participate in together, and the mission of HomeStretch is close to her heart.   “To help families find sustainable housing is such a blessing,” Leslie Renee explains. “Our home means so much to us. It holds the best memories and we treasure our family time there. It makes my heart happy to help someone else fulfill that dream.” With an overwhelming response to her Facebook fundraising page, Instagram account posts, and emails to close friends and family, Leslie Renee raised over $800 for HomeStretch!  We are grateful to Leslie Renee and all of her supporters for paying it forward and investing in the homeless parents and children we serve. Welcome Hannah Jones HomeStretch helps parents and their children on the path to stability. We recently expanded the services offered to the youth in our program to include individual goals for every child. For that reason, we are pleased to introduce Hannah Jones, our new Youth Case Manager!  Bringing Hannah on board is a key to program growth and even greater impact for the youth. “This job appealed to me because it combined my passion for serving families experiencing homelessness with enrichment and development for the kids,” Hannah shares. “I fell in love with HomeStretch and its mission to strengthen families. I look forward to getting to know the kids and helping nurture their strengths.” Hannah, who earned her MSW from Georgia State University, is hard at work finding summer program opportunities for the children, meeting with families to get to know them, and working on LifeSkills development. We are thrilled to have Hannah as part of the HomeStretch team! INTERVIEW: Reflections from a Graduate Christine and her daughter recently completed the HomeStretch program and moved from Millbrook Circle into an apartment in East Cobb.  We checked in with her to hear her words of wisdom after graduating. Q: How did HomeStretch help you find stability? Christine: The program gave me great guidance on budgeting and keeping my spending habits in check. Not only did it give me a home, it also gave us a chance to be together as a family. Q: How do you feel as you take this next step? Christine: I’m able and equipped to manage my money and keep emergency savings. I’m enthusiastic about the future and excited to work hard to achieve new goals! Q: Do you have any advice for new HomeStretch families? Christine: I encourage new families to focus on budgeting and getting their family a stable living environment. Take the time to see what caused your homelessness, deal with past issues, and then let it go. Homelessness brings distress to a family. Emotions like anger, remorse, and depression can hinder growth so letting go of that negativity is an important step toward healing and better parenting.   Congratulations to Christine on completing the HomeStretch program! Best Foot Forward Interviewing Special thanks to Oracle OWL (Oracle Women in Leadership) for leading an April LifeSkills class on interviewing skills. Seven Oracle women led mock interview sessions with HomeStretch residents.  It was a highly effective session and a great time of professional engagement.  PROPERTY VOLUNTEERS Chattahoochee High School Beta Club Locum Leaders North Point Community Church (small groups) Young Men’s Service League (North Fulton) Young Men’s Service League (Northeast Atlanta) The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints Flood Ministries Halyard Health Publix Dunwoody United Methodist Church (small group) Blessed Trinity (Class of 2018) LexisNexis Roswell Presbyterian Church (Day of Service) St. Brigid Catholic School RUN THE RIVER ROAD RACE National Charity League (Milton) Blessed Trinity (Interact Club) AmeriPark Chamblee Charter High School (National Honor Society) Cub Scout Pack #797 Hilbert’s Heroes/Hilbert Law All others who helped with this great event! Sincerely,   Rose J. Burton Executive Director

APRIL 2018  This Month’s Happenings: Yesenia’s Story: A Look Inside HomeStretch HomeStretch Honored at the State Capitol A Look Back at the History of HomeStretch  – Founding Mothers and Fathers Lace Up Your Sneakers Peachtree Tea Success Little Black Dress Event Mark Spain Real Estate Excellence  100 Black Men at Roswell Roots Housing Best Practices Thank You Volunteers Calendar Yesenia’s Story: A Look Inside HomeStretch There’s a new way to share the HomeStretch mission – in a newly released video! This two-minute piece debuted at the Peachtree Tea and follows the story of one of our graduate families from homelessness to a stable life. So take a moment to watch it yourself, and then pass it on. HomeStretch Honored at the State Capitol HomeStretch was recognized with a proclamation in the Georgia State Senate and the House of Representatives in honor of our 25 years serving the community. We are so proud of where we have been and where we are going. Here’s to another 25! Thank you, Betty Price, John Albers and Roger Wise! A Look Back at the History of HomeStretch  – Founding Mothers and Fathers You may have heard about the ‘Founding Mothers’ of HomeStretch – Faye Jones Anderson, Amy Blackburn, Beth Burns, and Jackie Wertymer. At the Peachtree Tea, these wonderful women sat down for a coffee table discussion about how HomeStretch started. With humor and passion, they shared what it was like in 1991- 1992. They spoke of their efforts to recruit volunteers, obtain funding, provide services to homeless families through a volunteer run organization, and provide governance on the first Board of Directors. Their program model was to provide “a hand up, not a hand out.” However, did you know there are also a few ‘Founding Fathers’ of HomeStretch? Warmly referred to as the ‘Roswell Three,’ these community leaders truly laid the groundwork to provide a strong foundation for HomeStretch. Cy Mallard of Roswell Presbyterian Church, Malone Dodson of Roswell United Methodist Church, and Hendree Harrison of St. David’s Episcopal Church led their churches in ministering to this new housing and services initiative through seed money for housing, family sponsorship, and supportive services. HomeStretch is extremely proud of the legacy our founding mothers, fathers, and community created 25 years ago. It is with great anticipation and excitement that we carry the torch forward into the next 25 years. Lace Up Your Sneakers Get out your running gear and strap on your Fitbit!  It is time for the Run the River Road Race on April 14.Beginning at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Roswell, this tranquil course runs alongside the Chattahoochee River. After the race, join us for music, food, and a fun awards ceremony! Did we mention the cool race shirt?  We welcome serious runners, weekend warriors, walkers, families, and pets. Options include a 5K walk, 5/10K runs, and a Fun Run. Come join us for a morning of fun and exercise to benefit the mission of HomeStretch. This race always sells out so be sure to reserve your spot at Run the River Details Peachtree Tea Success With over 250 guests, we celebrated our 11th Annual Peachtree Tea on February 27. We dined on a lovely lunch and enjoyed a lively silent auction and 50/50 raffle all while celebrating HomeStretch with friends and co-workers. During lunch, we were inspired by speaker Sharde Lewis, a HomeStretch graduate, who told the story of her journey from homelessness to HomeStretch and her continued success and self-sufficiency. The luncheon concluded in a spirit of celebration for HomeStretch’s  25th anniversary as we heard about our roots from our founding mothers.  “This year’s Peachtree Tea was a fantastic success,” says event chairperson Tania Trumble. “We were able to raise a lot of money for HomeStretch and continue to raise awareness about the homelessness issues in our area.” Thank you to Tania, the event volunteers, auction donors, and sponsors. Most especially, thank you to Publix Charities, our presenting sponsor again this year. Fighting Poverty Wearing a Little Black Dress  The Junior League of Gwinnett and North Fulton sponsor the Little Black Dress initiative where local non-profit leaders discuss the causes and effects of poverty for women and children. These leaders wear a little black dress for a week, making a statement that poverty is ‘unfashionable’. HomeStretch Executive Director, Rose Burton, joined other local poverty experts to discuss the impact of severe financial hardship and limited access to opportunities and resources.   Did you know? * Georgia ranks 6th worst in US Child Poverty * 38% children in Atlanta are below the poverty line * 1 in 5 families with children under 18 live in poverty, 49% headed by single mothers * From 2000 to 2012, the poor in Atlanta suburbs more than doubled, growing by 122%   Thank you to The Junior League and Rainbow Village for hosting this important event that provides an opportunity for open discussion about poverty and how the community can be involved in solutions. Mark Spain Real Estate Excellence After an amazing day of hard work and giving, it is easy to see why Mark Spain Real Estate has a stellar reputation for excellence!  Thank you to each of the volunteers who made such an impact in our neighborhood! 100 Black Men at Roswell Roots  HomeStretch thanks Harold Hamilton of 100 Black Men, Metro North Chapter, for treating our families with tickets to the “Olympic Pride American Prejudice” feature film as part of the Roswell Roots Festival.  The film highlights the lives of 18 brave African-American Olympians who defied the odds at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany. HomeStretch resident Kaye attended with her four children. “The show was great! I learned things that I didn’t know,” shared Kaye. “Now I need to take a history class or start reading about it because I want to learn more.” Thank you, 100 Black Men, who regularly provide mentoring and support to our teens! Housing Best Practices HomeStretch friend and partner, Dan Wilhelm of 3 Options Realty, recently volunteered his time and housing law expertise to provide additional education for the HomeStretch staff. Dan reviewed best practices