JULY 2019 This Month’s Happenings: Introduction Meet our HomeStretch Staff New Happenings at HomeStretch Thank You to our Volunteers Dear HomeStretch Supporters, WE ARE BACK!! While there has been a lot of changes going on at HomeStretch, our mission has remained the same – temporary housing and permanent solutions for working homeless families in North Fulton County.  Welcome to our new fiscal year! We want to encourage you –  our community to reach out, to get involved and to learn about the changes. We have an amazing board of directors and a dedicated team, who are working hard to carry out our mission in the community. Thank you for being patient and stay tuned for the exciting things to come! Talaya Parker Exectutive Director HomeStretch Meet Our Staff at HomeStretch  Executive Director Talaya Parker Talaya Parker is an entrepreneur and business leader with a history of success for leading and developing people. She has led teams within sales, service, marketing and public relations. Talaya has a passion for diversity, cultural inclusion, social and community responsibility Talaya has served as a volunteer at several non-profits. Talaya has a degree in Business and a degree in Marketing. Talaya was inducted into the Atlanta Tribune’s Hall of Fame “Innovative Leaders”. Finance Manager Dennis Baptiste Dennis Baptiste has been a CPA for over 30 years. He joined HomeStretch in December of 2010 after volunteering for over 9 months. Prior to HomeStretch, Dennis was a senior accountant for major companies including the former Arthur Andersen, Time Warner and AT&T. Dennis grew up in the Caribbean, but lived most of his life in New York City and Georgia. He is married and have two adult children. Program Director Rachelle Dowell Rachelle was born and raised in Tennessee. She received her degree from the University of Tennessee and it was there she met and married her husband. They have two children. She enjoys spending time with family, Zumba and hiking on beautiful trails. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority sisters. Senior Case Manager Hannah Jones, MSW  Hannah is originally from Texas. After receiving her Bachelor’s degree from Georgia Southern, she began teaching Spanish in a private school setting. Through seeing gaps in services for students, she began pursuing a career in social work. Hannah received her Master’s degree from Georgia State University and have been working with families experiencing homelessness for 3 years. Family Case Manager Latoya McLennon Latoya was born and raised in NYC and moved to Georgia in 2015 to start a new beginning with her two children ages 9 & 6. She completed her undergraduate at St. John’s University in Biology in 2011. She has over 10 years of case management experience working with clients that have mental health issues, developmental disabilities, at risk youth and homeless families. She completed her master’s degree in Social Work in August of 2018 with honors. Latoya admires her parents, that are from St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, because they believe in working hard to get to where you want to be in life. Facilities Director Max Myers Max served in the U.S. Army as a crane operator from 1971-74, and later was commissioned officer in the Illinois National Guard as a Chaplain Candidate. His formal education was received at North Central University and Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. Max has his private pilot’s license and ran for the office of Governor of Pennsylvania in 2014.  Max and his wife Nina, were married in 1975. They have two grown children and five grandchildren. New Happenings at HomeStretch Tuesday, August 6th, 2019 6 – 9 pm National Night Out Riverside Park, Roswell, GA Join HomeStretch and local business partners supporting Roswell’s Police and Fire Department with a night of free community and family fun. HomeStretch will be offering free kids face painting and corn hole! Thursday, August 8th, 2019 2 – 4 pm HomeStretch Open House 89 Grove Way, Roswell, GA 30075 Join us for light refreshments, a tour of the HomeStretch office, and property tours of the resident’s homes. Meet our staff and learn more about our program and how you can get involved. Tuesday, October 29th, 2019 Golf Tournament Atlanta National Golf Club – Milton, GA HomeStretch’s next big fundraiser is our Golf Tournament. Contact us for information on playing in the tournament, sponsorship opportunities for businesses or individuals, and volunteering at the event. THANK YOU!!!  to all our front desk and property volunteers  and those who participate at our events. We could not fulfill our mission at HomeStretch without you!            

FEBRUARY 2019 This Month’s Happenings: A Fond Farewell from Joan O’Connell HomeStretch Love Peachtree Tea Coming Soon: Have you bought your tickets? Atlanta Legends Help Wanted Thank You to Our volunteers A Fond Farewell from Joan O’Connell At the end of February, I’m retiring from HomeStretch and relocating to Florida’s East Coast. Yes, I’m looking forward to great weather, beach time, and maybe boating.  I’m also excited to look for adventures to serve my new community. However, before I go, I wanted to share some of my fond memories as Development Director. When I started as a contract grant writer six years ago, Rose and I had an immediate connection and became a great team for expanding partnerships and funding. It didn’t take long for her to ask me to join as an employee, which I eagerly did. I survived rebuilding the hill in front of our office building, a broken foot, exciting and exhausting fundraising events, the transition of some employees, and the welcoming of new team members. I experienced working with an incredible team of staff, volunteers, and board members who give their heart and soul to help our families succeed. I will always be amazed at the time and energy our volunteers devote to HomeStretch. Special thanks to Minnie, Patty, Susan, Kendra and Bob, to name a few. I give special thanks to Carol, Program Director, who was always there when I needed her with program results, partnership expansion, and showing her passion for HomeStretch in so many ways. And yes, she also keeps her candy bowl full!  Also grateful to Laura for jumping into Development with both feet. HomeStretch will always hold a special place in my heart for giving families a second chance to rebuild their lives and create a more caring and productive community. I’ll miss you all. Even though I’m leaving, I plan to continue to make this world a more caring and collaborative place through volunteer efforts by the beach. Joan, on behalf of all who know and love you in the HomeStretch community, THANK YOU for many years of hard work and dedication, for making us laugh, and for inspiring us to reach for excellence. God speed. HomeStretch Love As we celebrate Valentine’s Day, we thought it would be fun to ask our families what they LOVE about HomeStretch. Here are a few of their favorite things! ❤️ HomeStretch is the foundation of faith when you feel all has failed. HomeStretch provided a roof over my family and even more, provided education to prevent making the same mistakes. I LOVE the acceptance and support – they always cheer for you! –Selina ❤️ I LOVE that HomeStretch offers stable housing until you regain independence through achieving your goals. I also LOVE the LifeSkills classes where we interact with successful people and learn new things each month. -Bethany ❤️ I LOVE that HomeStretch provides a clean, stable environment with immediate access to resources such as budgeting education, mental health assistance, and a food pantry. -Alicia ❤️ What I LOVE about HomeStretch is the love I still feel when I walk in the building after being a HomeStretch graduate for over a year now. The hugs are still warm and the words of encouragement are empowering. Best of all, support services are still available if I need them. When you live in a massive city and have no local family it’s nice to have the security HomeStretch provides. -Tabatha ❤️ My family has been in the HomeStretch program for 7 months and already I have new hope – which leads to strength and motivation so I can focus on independence. I am thankful that HomeStretch staff are supportive, keeping us focused on a better future. -Denise Happy Valentine’s Day to our HomeStretch families! Peachtree Tea Coming Soon: Have you bought your tickets? It’s almost here! On February 26, we will gather at The Country Club of the South for a glass of champagne, tasty lunch, silent auction, wine pull, and raffle. It’s a busy day complete with fantastic speakers who will warm your heart. Come prepared to participate in all the fun and support the HomeStretch mission. Bring your friends and co-workers so they can learn about HomeStretch, too. Peachtree Tea Tickets and Auction Registration Can’t attend the Tea? You can still participate in the fun – and fundraising! Use the link above to register for and participate in the silent auction remotely. Atlanta Legends Are you ready for some football and just can’t wait for the NFL to return this fall? Join HomeStretch as Atlanta’s newest professional football team, the Atlanta Legends, face off against the Birmingham Iron on Sunday, February 24, 2019 at 4:00 pm at Georgia State Stadium (formerly Turner Field). Tickets purchased via the link below result in $5.00/ticket going right back to HomeStretch. Click TICKETS now to reserve your seats and help a homeless family in North Fulton find permanent housing and lasting stability. Help Wanted We’re in need of Office Volunteers to staff the reception desk at HomeStretch. Duties include answering phones, performing initial screening of potential families for the program, and various general office tasks. Training will be provided and we can work with you on an optimal schedule. Shifts available: Monday 9:00 – 1:00/1:00-4:00 Tuesday 1:00 – 4:00 (every 1st, 3rd, and 5th Tuesday of the month) Wednesday 1:00 – 4:00 To volunteer or get more information, contact Laura Zimmerman at 770-642-9185 ext. 120 or [email protected] Property & Program Volunteers Jabian Consulting National Charity League – Roswell/Alpharetta Chapter National Charity League – Milton Chapter North Point Community Church – Be Rich Young Men’s Service League – East Cobb Chapter Young Men’s Service League – Northeast Atlanta Chapter Sincerely,   Talaya Parker, Executive Director  

JANUARY 2019 This Month’s Happenings: New Executive Director Joins Our Team HomeStretch Staff Takes a Light-Hearted Look at New Year’s Resolutions Peachtree Tea Coming Soon Paying It Forward Good News From a Graduate Baby It’s Cold in Our Freezer Thank You to Our volunteers New Executive Director Joins Our Team We’re excited to welcome our new HomeStretch Executive Director, Talaya Parker. Talaya comes to us as a proven leader with a history of success in people development. She has a true passion for social and community responsibility that took root as a child. In fact, she volunteered as a candy striper at the age of 13. Talaya holds a degree in Business Management and Marketing. Before joining our team, she spent several years working in the telecommunications industry and most recently, she ventured into entrepreneurial endeavors. Throughout her career, Talaya continued to focus on volunteering in the community with a particular interest in social responsibility programs, mentoring, and motivational speaking. In 2015, Talaya was inducted into the Atlanta Tribune’s Hall of Fame. At HomeStretch, Talaya is responsible for optimizing financial stability, implementing the strategic vision and direction of our organization, working closely with the board of directors, collaborating with external partners, and leading a strong team. We welcome Talaya and look forward to her leadership as we begin 2019! Many thanks to those who stepped in to ensure a smooth transition: Board President, Bob Hagan, who not only spearheaded the search process but also provided day-to-day leadership during the transition. Dutch Earle, who provided professional expertise and many hours of service to HomeStretch by leading the search. Joan O’Connell, who served as the Operations Officer, keeping the ship moving full steam ahead. And to all the HomeStretch staff, who stepped up every day to make sure we didn’t miss a beat.  HomeStretch Staff Takes a Light-Hearted Look at New Year’s Resolutions I’d like to make more people smile via the gift of Coca-Cola. – Brandon   I resolve to stop lying to myself about making lifestyle changes. – Laura   I resolve to have a fat bank account and a slimmer physique. Last year, I got it backwards. – Talaya   My goal is to make everyone around me as perfect as I am. – Dennis   I am well known for a fully stocked candy dish in my office, and this year I resolve to ensure there’s fresh, seasonal candy available to my co-workers. No more Halloween candy at Christmas. – Carol I resolve to be open to the miracles around me and enjoy life, one moment at a time. – Joan Peachtree Tea Coming Soon Preparations are already underway for the annual Peachtree Tea on February 26, 2019 at Country Club of the South. Guests will enjoy a gourmet lunch and motivating speaker, along with opportunities to participate in the Wine Wall, raffle, and silent auction, which includes some exciting items this year! Click here for details, to purchase tickets or register for the on-line auction. Please note we’re also looking for event sponsors. Several levels of sponsorship are available – contact Joan O’Connell at [email protected] for details. Paying It Forward This holiday season the community showered HomeStretch families in abundance with food, gifts, and lots of love. One afternoon, we were particularly touched by the visit of a donor who came by to drop off gifts she gathered from co-workers. As she unloaded the toys and pantry donations from her car, she teared up, explaining why giving to HomeStretch at Christmas was personal and important to her. Years ago, she found herself recently divorced and unable to afford Christmas for her daughter. At the time, a similar agency helped her do so. She was so grateful for the help she received then that this year she organized a giving drive at her office for HomeStretch. It’s a story of paying it forward we just had to share. Thank you to all the donors and volunteers who helped make this holiday season special for HomeStretch families. Good News From a Graduate We recently heard from HomeStretch graduate, Detrotris, the first single father in the program back in 2004. When he came to us, he was earning $16,000 a year as a temporary employee for a phone company, had no support, and couldn’t get ahead. HomeStretch gave him the hand-up that helped him grow. Since then he found a good job as a loan officer with a credit union, purchased a home, and celebrated the graduations of his son from college and daughter from high school. “I always tell others about HomeStretch,” Detrotris shared. “It takes time and a lot of effort for people to grow and get out of debt, but it helps. The help HomeStretch gave me was such a blessing.” Blessings to you Detrotris, we are proud of all you’ve accomplished. Baby It’s Cold in Our Freezer    Did you know that we keep a freezer full of food to help our families make ends meet? Now that we’ve moved past the holidays and into 2019, we need to restock. Can you help with donations? Current needs are: Bags of chicken tenders, patties, nuggets – boneless skinless or breaded Frozen pizza, pizza rolls Family size frozen Stouffer’s or single portion meals Frozen waffles and frozen juice cans Bacon, ground beef, or ground turkey Property & Program Volunteers National Charity League – Roswell/Alpharetta Chapter National Charity League – Milton Chapter North Point Community Church – Be Rich Roswell Woman’s Club St. Andrew Catholic Church Holiday Donors Boral Oracle Redfin North Point Community Church – Be Rich St. Vincent de Paul – St. Peter Chanel Catholic Church Sincerely,   Talaya Parker Executive Director   

DECEMBER 2018 This Month’s Happenings: Seasons Greetings from HomeStretch #GiveServeLove Meet Shavaun, Case Manager Holiday Helpers Family Thanksgiving SAVE THE DATE Thank you to our volunteers Seasons Greetings from HomeStretch Click on this cover page to see our animated holiday card! #GiveServeLove Inspired by the Bible verse 1 Timothy 6:18, “Command them to do good, to BE RICH in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share,” North Point Community Church has unleashed a wave of generosity over HomeStretch through their annual Be Rich campaign. From mid-November to the end of January 2019, North Point members are signed up to give generously, to serve selflessly, and to love thoughtfully. This includes adopting HomeStretch families for Thanksgiving and Christmas, donating household supplies for incoming families, and volunteering both at HomeStretch properties and at LifeSkills classes. Thank you to all who chose HomeStretch to fulfill their Be Rich pledge and thank you to North Point Community Church for your extraordinary generosity and continued support of HomeStretch and our mission. Together, all is possible. Meet Shavaun, Case Manager HomeStretch welcomes new Family Case Manager Shavaun Vanderhall. Bringing more than 15 years of experience in human services, she’s already hard at work for our resident families. Shavaun sought out this position because of the HomeStretch mission: to take families from homelessness and give them the skills to be successful at independent living. She believes the success of the adults defines the future successes of their children and is excited to have a part in helping them achieve their goals. In addition, Shavaun is impressed with the HomeStretch staff. “There is such longevity amongst the staff and that speaks to the strength of an agency,” she shares. “Everyone here is awesome and I can tell this is somewhere I want to be.” We’re happy to welcome Shavaun and know she will be a tremendous asset to our team.   Holiday Helpers It’s officially the holiday season and we need YOU to help our families celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah and other holidays. Here are some urgent needs that are simple to fulfill and go a long way this time of year: Gas/Grocery Cards: Many of our residents have reduced hours and/or wages when businesses close for the holidays. With little to no paid time off and an increase in childcare expenses while schools are out of session, our families often find it hard to make it through the end of the year debt-free. For these reasons, gift cards for gas and groceries are an incredible help, creating needed margin so families can stay on track with their budget. MARTA/UBER/LYFT cards: One of the requirements for program participation is full-time employment. But did you know that almost 20% of our families don’t have cars? This makes transportation a challenge year-round. Gift cards for alternative transportation fills a huge gap, allowing our residents to serve as reliable employees and earn a consistent income. Special Family Night Out: Everyone likes to have some fun now and then. That’s why gift cards to affordable restaurants, movie theater tickets, or entertainment destinations are always a welcomed treat for families to enjoy over the holidays. Help a HomeStretch family celebrate the season together in a special way. Ideas include: Monkey Joe’s Catch Air Brewster’s Ice Cream Pizza And More! Fill our freezer: We can always use more food in our community freezer. Current needs include: Bags of chicken tenders, patties, nuggets: boneless skinless or breaded Frozen pizza, pizza rolls Family size frozen Stouffer’s or single portion meals Frozen waffles and frozen juice cans Bacon, ground beef, or ground turkey Family Thanksgiving HomeStretch is thankful for those who provided all the fixings for a perfect Thanksgiving dinner for HomeStretch families. This gift enabled current resident Tara to host her mother and friends for Thanksgiving at her home. “It’s been years since I was able to have Thanksgiving in my home with people I love,” she said. “I feel so blessed.” Pictured here is the Schoeller family delivering a Thanksgiving Dinner.   SAVE THE DATE    Mark your calendar for the annual Peachtree Tea, to be held February 26, 2019 at Country Club of the South. It will be a day of celebrating the HomeStretch mission with lunch, a silent auction, a raffle, and an inspiring speaker. More details to come in January. Property Volunteers Marriott International North Point Community Church – Be Rich Novogradac & Company, LLP YMSL – North Fulton Chapter Program Volunteers CAREing Paws National Charity League – Roswell/Alpharetta Chapter North Point Community Church – Be Rich Sincerely,   Joan O’Connell Development Director   

NOVEMBER 2018 This Month’s Happenings: The Road to HomeStretch BBQ with a Mission To the MAX 150 Hours and 40 Knights Pizza with a Purpose Full Cart – Full Heart HomeStretch in the Media SAVE THE DATE Thank you to our volunteers The Road to HomeStretch Often we’re asked: “How do families find HomeStretch?” Good question! One of the more common ways area families find us is through partner agency referrals. This month, we asked Andrea Brantley, Executive Director of Family Promise, to share an example of how this works. Below, she recalls a recent referral in her own words. When I met Dawn, mom of four boys, I believe she was at her lowest point. As part of the Family Promise program, families relocate each week to a different local church, so Dawn and her sons moved each week. During this time, her youngest son was diagnosed with Autism, adding more stress to her situation. Moving weekly, parenting her sons, dealing with the autism diagnosis, looking for a job, and driving for Uber as much as she could was a heavy load. Her part-time work meant she didn’t have a regular paycheck, but she would need full time employment for a program like HomeStretch. I counseled her on this and she worked diligently to find a job. Then there was a good day! Shortly after her son was diagnosed, Dawn saw a job posting for a full-time position with the Marcus Autism Center. Dawn got the job! It was the light at the end of the tunnel and allowed her family to qualify for HomeStretch. I referred Dawn to HomeStretch because each time I asked her to do something to improve her situation, she complied. She worked the Family Promise program to the best of her ability – never late, no excuses, no drama. Dawn is raising boys who are helpful and supportive of their mom and together I hope they will find stability through the HomeStretch program. Thank you Andrea and Family Promise, for the work you do and for being a valuable referral partner. We look forward to seeing Dawn and her boys thrive. BBQ with a Mission October 28 was a glorious day – blue skies and warm fall temperatures – the perfect setting for Roswell BBQ in the Burbs held on the beautiful lawn of Roswell City Hall. We had food, local craft beer and cocktails, kids’ activities, and great music from The Free. Hundreds joined us in celebrating the day and raising funds to support the HomeStretch mission. Thank you to our VIP sponsor, Choate Construction, as well as all sponsors, donors, committee members, and volunteers. To the MAX: In his first month, our newest team member, Facilities Director Max Myers, has made a big impact at HomeStretch. He brings a wealth of knowledge, a fantastic skill set, and a mission-over-me attitude. We look forward to the leadership Max will bring to our families, staff, volunteers, and properties going forward. Welcome to the HomeStretch team, Max! 150 Hours and 40 Knights HomeStretch is thankful for our Board Member Gabe Orthous and the Knights of Columbus who served over 150 hours repairing sub-flooring and installing new flooring in our units. The new floors will be healthier for the families and easier to maintain for the staff. The Knights brought generosity of spirit and their much-appreciated donation toward the floors. To us, that makes these Knights true heroes! Pizza with a Purpose Thanks to California Pizza Kitchen at Northpoint Mall for hosting a FUNdraiser for HomeStretch on September 20th. CPK donated 20% of all purchases from people who mentioned HomeStretch to their server. Staff members got the “dough ball” rolling by enjoying a quick lunch. We thank California Pizza Kitchen and all of our supporters who enjoyed lunch or dinner with pizza in their bellies and HomeStretch in their hearts. Full Cart – Full Heart Looking for a reason to shop? Now you can put your money where your heart is and shop to give! From now until December 31st, Boon Supply will donate 50% of every purchase made from the Full Cart – Full Heart Fundraiser. Boon Supply’s mission is to empower others to spread kindness and grow good in the world. To do so, they partner with non-profit organizations around the world to raise needed funding. Items available for purchase are affordable and beautifully crafted everyday essentials including totes, jewelry, kitchen tools, and organizational items, just to name a few. Plus, receive free shipping on orders over $75. Make your shopping count! FILL YOUR CART TODAY! HomeStretch in the Media: Affordable housing is in short supply in North Fulton and here at HomeStretch, we have a plan to increase our real estate development capacity to help meet this need. Recently, HomeStretch Development Director, Joan O’Connell, spoke with North Atlanta’s BizLink to discuss our mission and programs. BizLink’s Accelerator program is set to help expand the affordable housing pipeline, just what we need. Read the interview here to learn more. BizLink interview with HomeStretch SAVE THE DATE    Take part in a story – your gift can help house a family! Give to HomeStretch NOW or on #GivingTuesday, Tuesday, November 27, 2019. Property Volunteers Cambridge CATS Cox Communications Ernst and Young Flood Ministries National Charity League – Daddy Daughter Day North Point Community Church – Men’s Small Group YMSL – East Cobb Chapter YMSL – Northeast Atlanta Chapter YMSL – North Fulton Chapter Program Volunteers 100 Black Men – North Metro Chapter National Charity League – Milton Chapter National Charity League – Roswell/Alpharetta Chapter Renasant Bank – Cathy Jarvis Thornwell – Courtney Danner, LMSW Roswell BBQ in the Burbs Volunteers Aprio Cambridge CATS Knights of Columbus – St. Brigid National Charity League – Milton Chapter National Charity League – Roswell/Alpharetta Chapter North Point Community Church – Ladies Small Group Sincerely, Joan O’Connell Development Director