A Place to Call Home

“I feel blessed because we’re safe and healthy.”

It’s easy to take safety for granted when you’re secure in your home. But what if you have no place to call home?

Renecia faced this terrifying reality when she found herself on the streets with her two young children. What’s more, Renecia was expecting another child.

When she reached out in desperation for help, Renecia was told there were no shelters available in her community.

But a counselor had one ray of hope for Renecia. She was given bus tickets for her and her children to Atlanta, and assured help was available here.

When Renecia learned that My Sister’s House at Atlanta Mission accepted families, she was hopeful. And when she learned there was space for her and her children, she was thrilled.

“That was a big deal,” she says. “A lot of people don’t get beds right away.”

Then the pandemic hit, causing new disruptions. Clients and staff were asked to shelter in place. With her daughter unable to attend school and Renecia unable to maintain her job, they had to adjust to their new life.

“It’s kind of stressful, but then I feel blessed because we’re safe and we’re not sick,” says Renecia.

Giving Birth in a Pandemic

At first, because doctors’ offices were closed, Renecia’s prenatal appointments had to be virtual. But as the lockdown eased, she was able to have an in-person checkup. Her delivery in the hospital was thankfully free of complications and she gave birth to a healthy baby girl.

Now that her daughter is born, Renecia is grateful to Atlanta Mission and eager to become self-sufficient.

“They’re helping me grow in so many ways,” she says. “Like how to save money, how to set goals and stick with them.”

Renecia is thankful for the kind of help she received. “Atlanta Mission’s not going to do the work for you,” she says. “They will help and give you the resources. But you have to be motivated to get it done.”

Because of generous partners like you, Renecia and her family found hope and a safe place to work towards their goals and dreams for the future.

Pray for those facing homelessness this season

Join our community of prayer

We invite you to join our online community of prayer. On this page, you’ll find recent prayer requests from our staff, clients, volunteers, donors, and those still experiencing homelessness.

We invite you to share your prayers with us. Just as we invite you to pray with us, we want to pray for you, too.

Provide a home for the holidays

For men, women, and children living on the streets in the Metro Atlanta Area, there may not be anything to look forward to this Christmas!

You can change that!

The Justin Landis Group believes so strongly in our mission to provide homes for families experiencing homelessness, they have offered a special Home for the Holidays Matching Challenge that will double any gift you give, dollar for dollar, up to the $100,000 limit.

As real estate agents helping people find their dream homes, The Justin Landis Group hopes to inspire you to give families facing homelessness a warm welcome and a home for the holidays.

As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, we invite you to give those facing homelessness a reason to celebrate, too.

You are being used by God!

Dear Friend,

Over 2000 years ago, God would fulfill His true plan of Hope in a very unexpected way. A young woman would give birth to the Savior of the World in a manger!

As Christmas approaches, we’re preparing for the celebration with great food, gifts, and songs. Every Christmas is special, but I believe this year has and will continue to be even more meaningful.

We have been blessed to see God show up in and through hardship and transform lives:

• It was a young man at The Potter’s House who shared how his life had been transformed as he really understood how much God loved him.

• It was a woman sharing how her life was transformed when she accepted Christ as her Savior in the middle of the pandemic while staying with us at My Sister’s House.

• It was my friend Michael, who is at The Shepherd’s Inn taking one more step forward from a life that had been largely spent under a bridge.

In this year marked by fear and uncertainty, I pray that this Christmas we will be reminded of God’s presence, goodness, and love. A love demonstrated by the greatest gift of all—His Son!

Your love and generosity is an incredible gift to all those who enter our doors.

Blessings,

Jim Reese, President & CEO