Making progress during the pandemic and welcoming back skilled volunteers

Dear Friend of Atlanta Habitat,

Atlanta Habitat is encouraged by the positive news about the rate of COVID-19 vaccinations and the Centers for Disease Control’s latest guidelines. I am pleased to add to this good news by sharing that Atlanta Habitat will welcome back a limited number of skilled supervisors and ReStore volunteers to our headquarters and stores very soon. These are volunteers who have been trained by Atlanta Habitat. They will be required to show proof that they are fully vaccinated as part of their online registration with the Volunteer Services team.

Over the coming weeks and months, we will be reviewing how to resume other in-person activities, including our non-skilled volunteer program, safely. In the meantime, we are encouraging all of our supporters to support “The House we built from Home.” This virtual build campaign invites volunteers and stakeholders like you to fund our affordable home-purchase program until we can build together in person.

We are thankful for our staff’s continued adherence to Atlanta Habitat’s public health practices during this pandemic. More than 80 percent of our team members are now vaccinated with other staff considering or planning to receive the vaccine. With this news, we will reopen our headquarters for business this summer by piloting a Hybrid Work Model for employees. This model includes remote-work options, in-person and virtual appointments, CDC guidelines on public health safety, and the optional use of face masks by staff, shoppers, volunteers and visitors.

Atlanta Habitat’s Construction team and third-party contractors have continued pushing forward on our new home builds, rehabs and repair projects, despite continued challenges and delays with pending sponsorships, permitting, building supplies and weather. So far this year, we’ve completed four new homes, with 12 more scheduled or under construction. These 16 new houses bring us more than halfway to helping 30 new families achieve affordable homeownership in 2021.

Progress also continues at Browns Mill Village. We have Atlanta Habitat’s first model homes, proudly sponsored by our lead partner, Delta Air Lines, under construction. Our major expansion into South Fulton is underway with our first home build in Fairburn, critical home repair services, and a new South Fulton ReStore, which is being stocked and preparing to open this summer.

I am deeply grateful and honored to work with our outstanding board and lead a fantastic team. On behalf of them, we thank you for staying with us on this remarkable journey to build, thrive and grow with our families during this unprecedented crisis.

Sincerely,

Lisa Y. Gordon, CPA
President and CEO