Generous donors contributing to the Atlanta Habitat Home Matters mortgage-relief fund have made record-setting contributions to help 226 families to pay their mortgage during the coronavirus pandemic.

The mortgage-relief fund exceeded its fundraising goal of $750,000, raising over $770,000. It was established as an emergency response to help Atlanta Habitat homeowners who were financially impacted by business closures, layoffs, and workforce reductions at the beginning of the pandemic. Many homeowners work in schools, hospitals, retail, service, and hospitality industries. Nearly two years into the pandemic, homeowners continue to experience the ripple effects of the pandemic. Homeowners may apply and receive up to two months of mortgage payments from the fund.

"We are grateful for the generosity of donors to help our families in this special way. More than 90 percent of our homeowners pay their mortgages on time. However, this crisis has forced some homeowners to make tough choices between food, medicines, childcare and paying their mortgage," said outgoing Atlanta Habitat President and CEO Lisa Y. Gordon. "Giving to Home Matters helps our families remain in their homes in which they have worked so hard to build and purchase."

The organization expected the fund would be temporary when it launched on April 26, 2020. But, with the pandemic, a threat of another COVID variant and rising inflation, Home Matters is now a permanent fund to which individuals, groups, and organizations can help families.

As of December 2021, over 400 donors have supported the Home Matters fund, including individuals, corporations, and foundations. Top supporters include The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta, A Friend of Atlanta Habitat, Atlanta Women's Foundation, The Home Depot Foundation, Thrivent Financial, Habitat for Humanity International, Fifth Third Bank, and North Point Ministries, to name a few.

Donations to Home Matters can be made at www.atlantahabitat.org/donate.

Atlanta Habitat offers affordable, zero-interest mortgage payments that average around $600/month. A portion of the principal payment supports the nonprofit homebuilder's operations and the continued creation of affordable housing. The organization is committed to working with homeowners; however, it cannot survive the burden of multiple missed mortgage payments from many homeowners at once for long periods due to the crisis. This funding helps prevent homeowners from missing mortgage payments and being vulnerable to foreclosure.

While the federal economic stimulus package assists commercial banks with options for mortgage relief, Atlanta Habitat is not a commercial bank, and no aid exists for organizations like Habitat to provide a suspension of mortgage payments.

As one of Habitat for Humanity International's leading affiliates, Atlanta Habitat has made an estimated $40 million impact on affordable housing in neighborhoods across Atlanta over the last five years. Since its launch in 1983, the nonprofit affordable home developer has served 2,100 families (6,000 family members) or roughly 30-40 new families a year. With its 2021 expansion, Atlanta Habitat expects to reach nearly 1,200 additional families across neighborhoods in Atlanta, East Point, Fairburn, and South Fulton now through 2025 with its first-time home purchase, rehab, and critical home repair services. Visit www.atlantahabitat.org.