"The Light House Village will give us the opportunity to go well beyond our current service scope and do more for families in crisis. We can move beyond putting bandages on the problems. We can better help people start a new, sound life."
Joy Jones
Executive Director
Rockdale Emergency Relief, a United Way grantee agency, helps more than 2700 families a year with short-term emergency assistance, such as financial aid for past-due rents/mortgages and utilities, a food bank, vouchers for shelter, meals and gasoline for the homeless, free budgeting and adult literacy courses, screening and referrals. RER helps those in need of temporary emergency assistance, not those making a lifestyle of seeking aid. The focus is to empower those in need with the tools and positive start they need to recover and rebuild.
Typical recipients of their care include hungry babies, seniors without winter heating, stranded travelers and families suddenly homeless after a fire or loss of employment. Items of basic comfort are provided to those in crisis. It's a holistic approach - a hand up, not a handout. Each client is thoroughly interviewed to assess the extent of immediate need and to put a plan in place to restore the client to self-sufficiency. Services beyond the organization's scope are supported through an extensive network of community resources. The goal is to help families regain their financial stability and prevent them from becoming dependent on public welfare benefits. These current services will remain at their facility on Iris Drive in Conyers.
At Light House Village, Rockdale Emergency Relief will build and administer programming that will support the displaced and temporarily homeless with not just a roof over their heads, but support to reduce their need for aid in the future. The housing is included within programming that encompasses financial planning and budgeting courses; mentoring in job seeking and career advancement; solid information on utilizing the many available resources in social services, and family management.
The proposed site within the Light House Village includes:
Apartment Complex for Emergency Housing
This building will consist of interior entrance apartment units with characteristics similar to Efficiencies. The units will have secure adjoining / interconnecting doorways to accommodate larger families. The intent is to provide emergency housing for women with children on a short-term basis (targeted up to 14 days). There will also be an open area for meetings/trainings, a laundry facility, storage area and one small office for private interviews. The maximum overnight living space will accommodate 18 people.
Apartment Complex for Temporary Housing
Two buildings planned, each consisting of eight 2 and 3 bedroom apartment units with typical amenities. The intent is to provide housing for families who have been displaced, but with support services and training (targeted for 6 months up to 2 years) to transition to independent living elsewhere. A fenced play and picnic area is also anticipated. There will be a unit for a resident manager. The maximum overnight living space = 96 people
