In 2013, Nathan Deal proclaimed NOVEMBER

Help raise awareness by

wearing a purple ribbon each day in Novmeber
lighting your home purple

Get your purple ribbon and purple light bulb at the Impact office, 410 Newnan Rd. Carrollton, while supplies last: Mon - Th 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and Fri 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Homeless Definition:

Lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including sleeping in a temporary location (shelters, motels, others’ couches) or places not designated for human habitation (cars, tents, abandoned buildings. (HUD)

Some Homeless Stats:

51% of Americans are one paycheck away from homelessness
Over the last 5 years, the number of beds for the homeless has decreased
Homelessness increased (for the third consecutive year) in 20192

Homeless increased in total by 3%

Homeless individuals increased by 11%

Men constitute 61% of the homeless population
Veterans constitute 7% of the homeless population
Over 200,000 homeless adults are over the age of 50
20% of homeless people work full-time

Another 20%-30% work part-time

10,443 Georgians were homeless on any given night in 2018
7,586 adults w/o children were homeless on any given night in GA in 2019
815 adults w/ children were homeless on any given night in GA in 2019
74 children alone were homeless on any given night in GA in 2019
There are only 4,702 beds available for the homeless in Georgia
38% of the Homeless in Georgia are unsheltered on any given night
Georgia has the 9th highest homeless population

1 HUD

2 National Alliance to End Homelessness 2020

3 NORC, University of Chicago 2019

4 Point-In-Time Count, HUD, 2018

Impact West GA's HOPE Center

The founders of Impact West GA have served the community through church ministries that address hunger and literacy since 1999. In 2004, Impact West GA was founded as a nonprofit organization in response to a request from the city to expand their ministry to address the increase of homeless men in our area.

It took four years and an entire community’s support for HOPE

Center to become a reality. In January 2008, HOPE Center opened

it’s doors to the first homeless man. Since then, we've served more

than 1,000 men.

HOPE is a holistic, transition program for men who desire to move

from homelessness into their own homes and live self-sufficiently.

Unlike a traditional shelter, at Impact West GA’s HOPE Center, homeless men have a place to call home, three meals a day, laundry facilities, a warm bed, an address, and support. They live with dignity while they focus on rebuilding their lives. The Men of HOPE work hard to earn an income so that they can afford to pay rent on their own homes one day soon. They diligently save so they’ll have needed deposits when the time comes to transition. They spend months searching for an apartment or home they can afford.

Volunteer Sign up to receive The Impact Insider Homelessness Awareness Cover

Homelessness Awareness is Housing Awareness

There is a correlation between homelessness increasing in 2017, 2018, and 2019 and the significant increases in housing costs.
Half of those who are housed are only precariously housed and are vulnerable to homelessness in the near future
Approximately 12% of Americans are “cost burdened” (spending more than 30% of their income on housing)
A $400 unexpected expense or sudden job loss could catapult most Americans into homelessness

NORC, University of Chicago 2019

Harvard University, State of Housing, 2018

Locally

Average rent in Carroll County, including the city: $1,000
Local median incomes are the equivalent of $24 an hour in the county and $20 in the city
Sustainable rent/mortgage budget for local median incomes: county—$930.15, city—$768.677
Most west Georgians who make the median income or below and did not buy their homes prior to 2017 are spending more than they can afford on housing (are cost burdened).

Sustainable rent/mortgage budget for someone making $13.50 an hour and working full-time: $506
West GA does not have enough housing for individuals making $13.50 an hour or less.

Our housing crisis is NOT a “poor people” or “uneducated people” or “unemployed people” problem.
Our housing crisis is a problem for people: low-income to middle-income*, undereducated to highly educated*, unemployed to employed full-time*

6 Parsons, UWG, State of the Community 2018

7 hourly rate*40*50*.75*.30/12= (assumes 50 week working year, 25% withholding, etc., 30% housing budget)

8 U.S. Census ($49,608 county; $40,996 city)

*Tiffany, co-founder of Impact West GA, ull-time sociologist at UWG for 12 years, has multiple degrees, lives in the city, and cannot afford the average rent.