February 2018  This Month’s Happenings: Your Questions Answered! A Look Back at the History of HomeStretch Peachtree Tea on February 27  HomeStretch Welcomes a New Family Roswell Rotary Plays In the Dirt HomeStretch Logos – What do they stand for? Thank You Volunteers Calendar Your Questions Answered!  A Look Back at the History of HomeStretch As we mentioned last month, 2018 marks our 25th anniversary, and we’ll be celebrating all year long. This month, we want to share the answers to some common questions. So read on – you may be surprised by the answers! Why was HomeStretch started? We think the answer to this question can be summed up in one quote from a newsletter many years ago: “Many single parent families are at risk. The illness of a child or a sudden loss of job can plunge a family into homelessness. We desperately need a place here in North Fulton to house these families in crisis and give them the skills to return to self-sufficiency.” – Amy Blackburn of the Housing Task Force.           Published in the North Fulton Home Ministry newsletter- October, 1992 Why did North Fulton Community Charities (NFCC) transition the housing program to a separate corporation? At the time, both organizations, NFCC and HomeStretch, shared office space. We transitioned in order to avoid costly duplication of administrative expenses and for client convenience.   Why the name HomeStretch? The name exemplifies two things: The need to educate our community by stretching their concepts of how affordable and transitional housing can change lives for the better. The need to stretch our client’s hope that affordable housing can be a reality, that temporary housing can provide relief from overpowering economic pressures, and that HomeStretch can be the beginning of a return to self-sufficiency. First published in the HomeStretch newsletter -March 1993 It’s Tea Time It’s nearly here – our 11th annual Peachtree Tea is just days away! We hope you’ll join us on February 27th at The Country Club of the South. We’ll start with a great silent auction and champagne reception. During lunch, we’ll hear from one of our graduates and four of the dedicated ladies who were key to the founding of HomeStretch 25 years ago! “I am excited to chair the Peachtree Tea during HomeStretch’s 25th anniversary,” says Tea chairperson Tania Trumble. “With a fantastic silent auction, wine pull, and delicious lunch, it’s going to be a wonderful event.” We hope to see you at the Tea, but if you can’t attend, please participate in the on-line silent auction beginning the week before. Bid early and often. Get details, purchase tickets, or register for the silent auction today: Tea Details, Tickets and Auction HomeStretch Welcomes a New Family – Q&A with Rita A few weeks after her move to HomeStretch with her teen daughter and son, we caught up with new resident, Rita, to hear her story: Q: How did you find HomeStretch?  A: I was referred to HomeStretch by the social worker at my daughter’s middle school after I told her we were at risk of losing our housing. Q: What are your hopes upon completing the program?   A: I plan to be in a much better position financially, so I never have to worry about becoming homeless again. Q: What was the move-in like and what did you and the kids think of the apartment?  A: I was completely overwhelmed! I was in tears because it is so beautiful. The kids were ecstatic when they saw it! We love it and we are all so very grateful. Q: What circumstances led you to seek our help?   A: I was embroiled in a long-standing family legal issue that left me financially strained. The legal expenses caused me to get behind on my bills, which led to an eviction. Q: What have you learned so far, since coming to HomeStretch?   A: That there is a sense of humanity and there are people who care enough to help someone going through a hard time. Though my faith was tested at times, it all worked out for the blessing! Q: What advice would you give to someone seeking help?   A: Breathe, pray, call HomeStretch, and know all things are possible through faith! Roswell Rotary “Plays” In the Dirt Members of Roswell Rotary put in a hard day’s work at our Forrest Street apartment building, helping upkeep the neighborhood. Thank you, Roswell Rotary, for all of your good works! Thank You! VOLUNTEERS Flood Ministries Jabian North Point Community Church (Be Rich) The Galloway School YMSL (Milton, North Fulton, and NE Atlanta) Calendar Feb 27 – 11th Annual Peachtree Tea at Country Club of the South. Click here for details: Peachtree Tea Details April 14 – Choate Construction Run the River Road Race. Starts at St. Andrew Catholic Church. Click here for details:  2018 Run the River Sincerely,   Rose J. Burton Executive Director

January 2018  This Month’s Happenings: Reflecting on 2017 and 2018 Wrapping Up the Holidays 2017 Giving Through Hospitality HomeStretch Celebrates 25 Years of Service! Peachtree Tea on February 27 Thank You Volunteers Calendar Reflecting on 2017 and 2018: It’s hard to believe it’s mid-January already! As we look back on 2017, HomeStretch welcomed many new donors, partners, volunteers, and, of course, new families into our program. So, we look back with gratitude for those who joined us and those we have helped. 2018 brings lots of excitement and opportunity for HomeStretch. We’re celebrating 25 years of service and we’re kicking off the new year with an updated mission statement: “Guiding homeless families toward permanent housing and lasting stability.” This restatement of our mission affirms our 25 year legacy of helping homeless families and provides sharper focus on our work and outcomes. This is one of several steps we will take this year to position ourselves for the next 25 years. 2018 is going to be an exciting year, so stay tuned! Rose Burton Executive Director Wrapping Up the Holidays 2017: HomeStretch families were lavished with care and attention over the holidays through donated meals, gifts, decorations, and gift cards. These gestures allowed them to not only enjoy a beautiful holiday, but also maintain their financial goals and progress. Thank you for loving our families. In doing so, we were able to personally get to know you as you delivered your donations. And a special thank you for navigating our under-construction parking lot to get to us! The families were moved to receive such kindness, using words like ‘blessing’, ‘overwhelmed’, and ‘incredible’ to describe their experience. Thank you for making HomeStretch part of your holidays. Giving Through Hospitality:  Kimberly and Mark Stewart wanted to do something different this year for their annual Christmas Extravaganza. Kim, owner of New Beginnings in Roswell, wanted to demonstrate that our community has a giving spirit.  So, in lieu of gifts, they asked guests to bring a donation for HomeStretch. This novel and generous idea turned a festive Christmas gathering into a much-appreciated fundraiser and more importantly, provided an opportunity for those guests to learn about the homeless problem in our community and what HomeStretch does to address it. The Stewart family Christmas party raised over $20,000.00 for HomeStretch in one night! We are grateful for the incredible kindness of the family using a unique and fun way to give back to the community. Pictured above: Kurt and Jennifer Hilbert, Rose Burton, Kim and Mark Stewart. HomeStretch Celebrates 25 Years of Service! The year was 1991 and volunteers at North Fulton Community Charities recognized the need for housing for homeless families in the North Fulton area. The number of at-risk families was increasing, but local charities could only offer limited, short-term aid.  To address this growing need, volunteers formed HELPFUL, a ministry that would research housing solutions for these families. During this time, the North Fulton Home Ministry, a program of NFCC, was formed. The St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church provided funding and St. David’s Episcopal Church sponsored 2 families in the “Adopt a Family” program. Roswell Presbyterian Church was the first organization to support HomeStretch by generously paying a year’s rent for the first family served by the newly incorporated organization. By 1994, HomeStretch served homeless families in five residences with the support of community volunteers and donors. 25 years later, 2018 is a year of celebration for HomeStretch! Throughout the year, you’ll see news articles depicting the tremendous growth and impact we’ve had in North Metro Atlanta. We will also be hosting a number of special events culminating with a celebratory gala to be held in the fall. Thank you for being a part of our history! Tea Time:  We’re already hard at work getting ready for the annual Peachtree Tea presented, again this year, by Publix Super Markets Charities.  On February 27th at The Country Club of the South, we’ll start the day with a champagne reception featuring a fantastic silent auction, exciting raffle and the always-popular Wine Wall. At noon we’ll have a multi-course luncheon. The highlight of the day is hearing from a HomeStretch family as they share their journey, And, in celebration of our 25th anniversary, we’ll have the privilege of hearing reflections from our Founding Mothers. You’ll certainly leave with a new perspective on the change our program can bring. We hope to see you at the Tea! If you can’t attend, you can still participate in the on-line silent auction which will open the week before. Bid early and often and help us raise funds to support the HomeStretch mission. Get details, purchase tickets, and register for the silent auction Tea Details, Tickets and Auction Thank You! PROPERTY VOLUNTEERS North Point Community Church – “Be Rich” Roswell Presbyterian Church – Small Group Roswell Rotary YMSL – Northeast Atlanta Chapter St. James United Methodist Church Roswell Presbyterian Church Neighborhood Action Ministry YMSL – North Fulton Chapter Leadership North Fulton – Emerging Leaders Program William & Reed Academy and, as always, the Tuesday Guys and A Woman’s Touch Calendar Feb 10 – A Pre-Valentine’s Day Concert with Nicha Hillard.  Get details and purchase tickets here. Feb 27 – Peachtree Tea at Country Club of the South. Look for your invitation soon or see our website: Peachtree Tea Details Sincerely,   Rose J. Burton Executive Director