Habitat for Humanity of NW Metro Atlanta, based in Smyrna, is the recipient of a $600,000 Community HOME Investment Program (CHIP) Grant for residences to be built for veterans in the Veterans Place neighborhood in Douglasville.
Five residences for veterans in need of safe, reliable shelter will be built between August 2020 and July 2022.
Habitat for Humanity of NW Metro Atlanta broke ground on Veterans Place in August 2017.
This grant is the first CHIP money to be awarded inside the city of Douglasville.
“The city of Douglasville has been an amazing partner and a driving force behind making this grant a reality,” said Jessica Gill, CEO, Habitat for Humanity of NW Metro Atlanta. “Out of 1,200 affiliates nationwide, we are one of two affiliates to build a military-only neighborhood for the unsung heroes in our community.”
Douglasville city leaders completed the three-year Georgia Department of Community Affairs’ Georgia Initiative for Community Housing (GICH) program, which offers communities collaboration and technical assistance related to housing and community development, according to a statement from Habitat for Humanity of NW Metro Atlanta.
The initiative's objective is to help communities create and launch a locally based plan to meet their housing needs.
In the last year, students in the Alexander High School Habitat Club in Douglasville successfully raised money to build a house in Veterans Place.
After raising part of the needed funds, the Winn Family, on behalf of the Winn 3 Charitable Fund, donated $45,000 to complete the club's efforts.
The fund’s executor, Frank Winn, made the donation to honor his U.S. Marine Veteran father and grandparents who were reared in Douglasville.
The students will be helping to build the first house to break ground.
Subcontractors may be hired to provide various services not provided by Habitat volunteers such as grading, concrete, framing, roofing, plumbing, electricity, Energy Star Certified HVAC, flooring, siding, insulation, drywall/sheetrock and interior trim.
Interested Minority and Women-Owned Businesses (MBE/WBE) should contact Jessica Gill at jgill@habitatnwma.org to be added to the bid process.
Veterans who wish to apply must meet the requirements of service and an honorary discharge from any branch of the U.S. Military.
Requirements are available at: https://nwmetroatlantahabitat.org/homeownership.
Qualified veterans interested in applying should contact Habitat’s Director of Family Services Lisa Letner at 770-432-7954 ext. 100 or lletner@habitatnwma.org.
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