By Nancy Yancey | Rainbow Village, a transitional housing community in Duluth that serves homeless families with children, marked another milestone recently. Over 250 supporters gathered to celebrate the opening of their new Community Center and six new apartments. Bishop Keith Whitmore of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta led the blessing of the buildings.
Rainbow Village began 24 years ago at Christ Episcopal Church in Norcross. As an outreach ministry of the church, Rainbow House was formed in 1991 in a house that was leased from Georgia Power which was converted into a duplex.
After incorporating in 1995 and becoming Rainbow Village, the community grew in Norcross to serving 12 families. In 1998 a generous donation from Scott Hudgens allowed Rainbow Village to expand to Duluth opening eight apartments.
In 2010, a capital campaign was launched to create a new village in Duluth. The first phase, a Family Service Center and two – six unit apartment buildings opened in 2012. All families were relocated to the Duluth village at that time.
The second phase of the campaign is the Community Center which opened in June, 2015. Phase three will be the addition of three more apartment buildings. With the support of HomeAid Atlanta, the first of the final three apartment building was also opened this June.
The Community Center will be open to residents and graduates of the program. An early Childhood Development program, new to services provided, will assist 60 children. Kids R Kids in Duluth assisted Rainbow Village in the development of the early childhood center design and program.
An afterschool program, evening classes for all residents and meals are provided at the center, in addition to a chapel, counseling center and boutique to serve families. Primerica, UPS Foundation and Rotary Clubs have their names on classrooms. The chapel is dedicated to Jim and Billie Ellis. The playground is dedicated to Van and Lisa Fletcher and their son, Van, Jr. In partnership with HomeAid Atlanta, a six unit apartment building was constructed and just recently dedicated.
Harcrest Homes served as the team leader for HomeAid Atlanta, with many of their trade partners donating labor and materials. See the list of contributors by clicking here. Also in attendance at the June celebration were Alec Rickenbaker, HomeAid Atlanta Board Chairman, and Peter Simons, of Denver, Colo., HomeAid America CEO.
Many faithful investors of Rainbow Village joined to celebrate the ribbon cutting. The village will be completed with the construction of two more apartment buildings. At that time, 30 homeless families with children will call Rainbow Village home. The Scott Hudgens Family Foundation has provided a challenge grant of $250,000 to raise construction funds for the fourth apartment building. One of Rainbow Village’s guiding principles is to remain debt free.
Construction will not begin until the funding has been secured. With God’s help, the final funds will be raised in 2015 and another ribbon cutting celebration will be held upon completion of the last two apartments in December 2016. Rainbow Village will celebrate 25 years of breaking the cycles of homelessness, poverty and domestic violence in 2016.
Nancy Yancey is director of Rainbow Village.
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