United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta

Leadership

Frequently asked questions

Women's Legacy's Family Shelter Initiative

Facts about homeless women and children

Families with children are among the fastest growing segment of the homeless population
Source: National Coalition for the Homeless, 2001
Of the estimated 16,000 annual homeless in Atlanta, 46 percent are families with children and unaccompanied minors.
Source: 2003 Tri-Jurisdictional Homeless Census and Survey, Pathways
Two-thirds of the calls to United Way 211 for emergency shelters are from callers located outside the city of Atlanta.

Women's Legacy's Family Shelter Initiative is a four-pronged strategy:

Temporary housing for homeless women and children: United Way Women's Legacy formed a partnership with the city of Atlanta and the Atlanta Women's Foundation to replace shelter beds lost in the city in 2004. United Way Women's Legacy matched a 3-year, $350,000 annual commitment made by the city.
Awareness: United Way Women's Legacy is committed to raising awareness about the plight of homeless women and children via the From Our Heart to Yours Shoebox project.
Permanent housing for homeless women and children: United Way Women's Legacy has partnered with the Regional Commission on Homelessness' Women and Children's Council to help women and children transition out of homelessness.
Advocacy: United Way Women's Legacy is committed to supporting United Way in making a lasting impact on our community.

We are two years into a three-year funding commitment. United Way Women's Legacy and the city of Atlanta will provide more than $2 million to ensure homeless women and their children have the emergency support and services they need, including child care and job training, to get back on their feet and move ahead.

We all hold the key to ending homelessness for women and children. We ask you to:

Think about all the resources you have to leverage: potential sponsorships, partnerships and volunteers.
When you have ideas or support to lend, please contact Natalie Evans at 404.527.7391 or nevans@unitedwayatlanta.org if you are interested in becoming a volunteer working on the Family Shelter Initiative.