Rainbow Village

Why did you become involved with this organization?

“I first got to know Rainbow Village when I was board chair for another local community foundation and donated money in the form of a grant. Now, it’s kind of the old saying: the heart goes where the money goes. As a board member, with my son and nephews, I’ve had the opportunity to help folks move out of transitional housing and into their own place. They do a fantastic job.”

What is the grant for and how will it benefit the community?

Since its founding in 1991 as Rainbow House, Rainbow Village has served more than 1,300 individuals in their journey from homelessness to self-sufficiency, providing a safety net of services for the homeless, with the goal of eliminating barriers to housing security and keeping families together. Our organization bridges a gap in services for homeless families in the Metro Atlanta area with comprehensive care, including financial literacy, peer-to-peer counseling and volunteer services to improve their circumstances. The grant will be used to support the general operating needs of moving 30 low-income families from homelessness to self-sufficiency. This year, Rainbow Village shifted our housing priorities to encompass long-term goals for families, working towards objectives along our five key pillars: family stability, well-being, education/training, financial management and employment/career management in our two-year ASPIRE Supportive Housing Program and our three-year THRIVE Alumni program.

We don’t just give people a place to live, we teach them life skills to break that cycle of despair. We’re not just putting a short-term Band Aid on the problem.