Accomplishments
Some Facts About Our House
- Our House is located in a 3200 square foot building donated
by Columbia Presbyterian Church.
- Licensed by the Georgia Department
of Early Care and Learning
- Accredited by the National Association
for the Education of Young Children
- Has a full-time staff that includes
2 Family Advocates, 9 Teachers, an Early Childhood
Coordinator, a Program Assistant, and an Executive Director
- Helps parents obtain housing and jobs, and provides job training,
counseling, advocacy and transportation assistance
- Located in a 3,200 square-foot building just off Columbia Drive in
Decatur
- Serves shelters and transitional housing programs throughout
Metro Atlanta.
- Governed by an all volunteer Board of Directors.
Each year we provide services to more than 90 children from over 65 families. Our center is nationally accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and was recognized by the Georgia Head Start Association in 2004 for Excellence in the field. In 2001 we received The Travelers Aid Outstanding Agency Award and the Dekalb County Community service award in 2001.
During the last 3 years we have successfully trained 23 parents in our Parent Intern program. Of the 22 parents completing the program, 47 % left the program with full time employment secured. Another 14 % were successful in securing employment within 2 months of exiting the program. The average length of stay in the program for parent interns was 7.8 months. Our House currently has 3 former parent interns employed as permanent full-time staff members.
Families Benefit from Our Services
Last year Thirty-nine or 87% of adult participants were unemployed at the time that they entered the program. Of these, four were receiving SSI assistance and were deemed unable to work. Thirteen or 37% of the 35 participants who were actively job searching became employed within six months of their start date. Nine or 26% of the 35 unemployed participants were enrolled in a training or educational program within six months of their start date. 63% of adult participants who were unemployed at program entry were employed or receiving job training within 6 months of program entry and 68% of all participants were employed during the same time frame
39 or 77% of families were living in emergency shelters at entry this year; ten or 23% families were living in transitional housing. Seventeen or 40% participants of participants were living in transitional housing and working toward permanent housing by the end of the year or at the time of exit, if they exited prior to the end of the year. Thirteen or 30% of families were living in permanent housing at the time of their exit.