CaringWorks, one of the largest providers of supportive housing in the metropolitan Atlanta area for 20 years, has received $550,000 in grants toward its Bolster the Bridge capital campaign, which is entering its final push through October 31, 2022. Funds raised from the campaign will be used to expand mental and behavioral health inpatient and outpatient services, build infrastructure and provide succession planning so that the organization is well positioned to further its mission of breaking the cycle of homelessness in metro Atlanta, one person, one family, at a time.

Anchoring the Bolster the Bridge campaign are three large grants, including a $350,000 grant from the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation, a $100,000 grant from The James M. Cox Foundation and a $100,000 grant from The Tull Charitable Foundation. Additional funding toward the campaign will be provided through a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant targeted at addressing the needs of individuals who have a serious emotional disturbance (SED) or serious mental illness (SMI), as well as individuals with SED or SMI and substance use disorders, referred to as a co-occurring disorder (COD). 

“Although CaringWorks is celebrating 20 years of serving those exiting homelessness in metro Atlanta, we are looking toward the next 20 years,” said CaringWorks CEO Carol Collard. “CaringWorks combines housing solutions with healthcare, employment assistance and other supportive services to end the cycle of chronic homelessness. We are grateful for generous donations from organizations such as The James M. Cox Foundation and The Tull Charitable Foundation to the Bolster the Bridge campaign, which will help position us to continue providing these critical services to the underserved homeless population.”

In 2012, the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) estimated chronic homelessness costs about $40,000 a year per person – a number that has certainly increased in the last 10 years. Compared to the average annual cost of $12,685 to provide support for a CaringWorks resident, it is clear to see that ending homelessness makes business sense for our communities. Furthermore, because CaringWorks provides access to services that foster dignity, self-sufficiency, and well-being, including access to mental and behavioral health services, CaringWorks residents work, pay taxes, rent apartments, purchase groceries, volunteer, and join faith-based organizations. Over 90% of CaringWorks residents are still housed one year after joining the program.

The CaringWorks Bolster the Bridge Campaign has a total goal of $650,000 for 2022 and will close out the year on October 31 and enter year two of fundraising on November 1. For more information regarding contributing to the campaign, visit https://www.caringworksinc.org/donate/ or contact Barbara Peters at [email protected].