PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: October 9, 2020

Contact: Kate Peterson | 303.830.3443 | kpeterson@mercyhousing.org

Community-based Fund led by Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta and United Way of Greater Atlanta to help families, seniors, and people with special needs with COVID relief

ATLANTA—Mercy Housing Southeast (MHSE) received funding from the Greater Atlanta COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund to continue their groundbreaking work delivering affordable housing with resident services.

Flexible funding of $30,000 will support MHSE’s pop-up food and supply pantries, food boxes, personal protective equipment (PPE), and cleaning products to help prevent contagion at its communities. MHSE continues to support residents with resident services like virtual Out-of-School Time activities, distance learning, rental assistance, and other initiatives that promote resiliency during the pandemic. MHSE has 46 communities across the Southeast and the average resident income is just $15,900 per year.

“It’s great to see the Atlanta community come together to support those most in need at this critical time. The pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for those living with low incomes. Affordable homes with resident services can make a positive impact for residents and the entire community.”—Mercy Housing Southeast President, James Alexander

The Greater Atlanta COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund

The Greater Atlanta COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund was created on March 17 to provide immediate support to those most vulnerable to the economic and health-related impacts caused by the coronavirus. Following several significant donations by the lead agencies and local funders, hundreds of individuals, corporations and foundations have made contributions. To date, over 300 nonprofits have been awarded over $18 million in funding. The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta committed $1 million and United Way of Greater Atlanta contributed $500,000 to seed the Fund. Funding is focused on the 23-county metro Atlanta region. For more, visit the fund’s website.

The onset of COVID-19 has severely disrupted the lives of families, seniors, and individuals with special needs with low incomes served by MHSE. Many residents working in the service industry, retail, and other vulnerable jobs became un- or under-employed as a result of COVID-19. The pandemic has also worsened inequities like low access to technology among students and highlighted existing health concerns, including social isolation among seniors.

About Mercy Housing Southeast: Mercy Housing Southeast (MHSE) provides affordable homes to people with low incomes, including families, seniors, people who have experienced homelessness, and people with disabilities. With 46 properties throughout Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, and Tennessee, MHSE serves more than 5,200 people every day. MHSE supplements much of its housing with Resident Services, programs that help residents build stable lives. MHSE is a regional branch of Mercy Housing, Inc. (MHI), a leading national affordable housing nonprofit headquartered in Denver, CO.

About the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta: Since 1951, the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta has been leading and inspiring philanthropy to increase the vitality of our region and the well-being of all residents. With nearly 70 years serving the 23-county Atlanta region and a robust team of experts, the Community Foundation expands its philanthropic reach and impact by providing quality services to donors and bold, innovative community leadership. The Community Foundation is a top-20 community foundation among 750 nationally, with approximately $1.2 billion in current assets, and is Georgia’s second largest foundation. For more information, visit: cfgreateratlanta.org or connect with the Foundation on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

About United Way of Greater Atlanta: United Way of Greater Atlanta, the largest United Way in the nation, focuses on ensuring that every child in Atlanta has the opportunity to reach his or her full potential. The organization invests in more than 200 programs in 13 counties through the Child Well-Being Impact Fund and works to help children succeed in school, improve financial stability of families, provide affordable and accessible healthcare, and end homelessness. For more information, visit: unitedwayatlanta.org or Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.