Page 14 - Athens New Comers Guide 2023

Athens, GA: Innovator in Cost-Manageable Housing

Everyone knows Habitat for Humanity builds houses. But you might not
know Athens Area Habitat is one of the organization’s top innovators.

FUNDRAISING PIONEERS access ramps for Athenians facing of Athens to create transitional housing
this predicament. for local families who’ve fallen into
Habitat for Humanity has been one of homelessness. These apartments provide
America’s best known non-profits since the REDEFINING SHELTER shelter, safety, and stability while Family
1970s, and they’ve had an affiliate in Athens, Promise works with the families to get
GA, since ’88. These days, Habitat ReStores Even with non-profit construction and zero- them back on their feet.
are a thrift-shopping staple across the country, interest mortgages, many folks who lack
but that wasn’t the case early on. stable housing still can’t afford a home BUILDING THE FUTURE
of their own at any size. So Athens Hab
Athens Area Habitat was one of the original spearheaded “ReNew Athens,” an ongoing Athens Area Habitat’s most ambitious
3 US affiliates to get that ball rolling by project to purchase and rehab abandoned project to date, the planned Micah’s Creek
reselling donated merchandise to raise multi-family housing such as apartments neighborhood, received federal and
money. Back then, goods were sold out of and duplexes, converting them to cost- municipal support in the 2023 budgets. A
a dirt-floor barn a little ways up from the managed rental properties. first in the nation, this unique project will
current Barber Street ReStore, whose “barn provide home ownership opportunities to
door” awning above the front entrance is With the stability provided by ReNew families within a single school attendance
an homage to those early days. Athens, some renters have managed zone and measure the impact on health
to qualify for Habitat’s home ownership and financial status of the families, and
By 2013 “Athens Hab” had become the program. And in 2019, Habitat for Humanity educational achievement of the kids over
first Georgia affiliate to operate 2 stores, International announced that rental housing a number of years.
with the grand opening of ReStore West would become a priority nationwide.
on Atlanta Highway. Over the years, these With the resulting data quantifying the
shops and the folks who donate to them have REACHING THE positive effects of home ownership —
made a tremendous contribution to the non- HIDDEN HOMELESS previously uncovered in a survey carried
profit’s capacity to build and renovate homes. out by GA Tech in cooperation with Habitat
Did you know that one in five foster
kids will become homeless on their for Humanity of Georgia — Micah’s Creek
MEETING MORE NEEDS is intended to serve as a practical model
18th birthday, and only 3% will ever
Home ownership can be challenging on earn a college degree? In 2017, Athens for cities across the nation seeking to help
families not only obtain stable housing, but
a fixed income. So Athens Area Habitat Area Habitat partnered with local non- also to build generational wealth, a goal not
created its “Brush with Kindness” program, profit Lydia’s Place to fight those odds served by mixed-income housing schemes
funded by federal grant applications, to by creating Lydia’s Homeplace, where
make critical structural repairs for qualifying formerly homeless youths accepted into or public housing projects.
homeowners in Clarke County. And in 2019, local college programs can find stable
Athens Hab partnered up with Accent housing which, unlike the dorms, won’t MOVING FORWARD
Roofing, who donate a new roof for every leave them stranded during summers and Athens, GA, is a city rich in intellectual
100 they install, to refer homeowners in holidays and won’t lock them out over resources and the will to improve lives.
Clarke for their program. an unpaid parking ticket or infirmary bill. Through innovation and partnership, and
In 2022, the governor’s office approved a with broad community support, our Habitat
And although you might never have grant to partially fund construction of Lydia’s affiliate has helped re-imagine the scope
thought about it, disabilities can pose Second Home, which will more than of solutions to insufficient housing, with
a stark choice for formerly able-bodied quadruple the number of students served. an impact far beyond the county line. And
homeowners — lose the house, or become while we don’t know what the future holds,
a shut-in. So Athens Area Habitat initiated Also in 2022, Athens Hab completed a there’s little doubt that bold new ideas will
a second grant-funded program to build project in partnership with Family Promise keep coming from the Classic City.