No two communities are the same, and their solutions to homelessness shouldn’t be either. Community-first solutions to homelessness address the needs of a particular community in a contextually adaptive way. ECF has found that partnerships between our parishes and their local Family Promise affiliates often rise to the challenge.
Nationwide, Family Promise “prevents and ends homelessness for families with children and helps them achieve sustainable independence through a community-based response.” Since 2020, ECF has awarded five grants totaling $108,292 to partnerships involving Episcopal parishes and Family Promise affiliates in Clarke, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, and White counties in Georgia.
Context-Specific Homelessness Solutions Matter
“ECF seeks to invest our grant funding for long-term, sustainable community impact. When a funding partner brings context-specific solutions, we see the impact of our funding multiply,” says ECF Executive Director Lindsey Hardegree. “It’s exciting to fund projects that put the distinct needs of the local community first.”
Beyond housing, these projects support ECF’s goal of spiritual growth for Episcopalians through service. Two initiatives involve converting parish property into affordable housing—a process that typically requires diocese review.
Here are five ways that parishes and Family Promise have tailored solutions to meet the distinct needs of their communities.
Location-Based Synergy: Building a Support System with Affordable Housing in North Fulton
In North Fulton, the affordability gap is so severe that a living wage for a single parent can reach $63 per hour. In 2023, St. David’s in Roswell used a $25,000 ECF grant to purchase a nearby house. Today, single mothers and children live at “Homebound Ranch” and form a vital support system for one another with parish help. Andrea M. Brantley, Executive Director of Family Promise of North Fulton/DeKalb, notes that this creates “not just housing, but a supportive and dignified environment” for families integrated into parish life.
Turning Old into New: Transforming Parish Property into Transitional Housing in Gwinnett
In Gwinnett County, families often must choose between food and extended-stay hotel rent. In 2021, aided by a $20,000 ECF grant, St. Edward’s in Lawrenceville transformed an adjacent house into Promise Haven, a transitional home. “Here, families are surrounded by volunteers, mentors, and neighbors who walk alongside them,” says Carol Love, Executive Director of Family Promise of Gwinnett. “That sense of community builds confidence, restores dignity, and creates a stronger path forward. Housing is important, but community is what makes change sustainable.”
Community-First Solutions: Combining Housing and Childcare for Families in Hall County
Previously, families in Hall County rotated through various churches for shelter. To reduce disruption, Grace Church in Gainesville helped launch The Homestead, a former Methodist structure now home to 11 families in private living spaces, with on-site childcare. ECF provided $25,000 in capital funding in 2023, and today parishioners continue to volunteer. “Bringing housing, childcare, and services together came directly from listening to local families and partners,” says Lindsey McCamy, Executive Director of Family Promise of Hall County.
Create More Time: Providing Space for Education and Training in Clarke County
In Clarke County, stiff rental requirements near the University of Georgia make independent housing difficult to secure. Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Athens partnered with Family Promise of Athens. They received a $30,000 ECF grant in 2025 to utilize a house owned by Athens Area Habitat for Humanity. Families in transition can stay longer, and this “extra time” allows parents to complete GED or training programs, which Madison Sanders, Executive Director of Family Promise of Athens, says “can lead to a higher paying job as well.”
Increase the Supply Chain: Expanding Shelter Services in White and Habersham Counties
In White County, short-term rentals have made long-term housing scarcer. Church of the Resurrection’s HomeWare Assistance Ministry provides furniture and necessities to families in need. By fulfilling an $8,292 ECF challenge grant in 2020, the parish helped Family Promise expand into Habersham County. Today, the program includes a family shelter in Cleveland and a singles shelter in Clarkesville. Family Services Coordinator Tami Terrall notes the program’s “very high success rate,” largely by staying informed of specific, changing community needs and being in close contact with families for at least a year after they begin living independently.
