Dress for Success

In collaboration with the J Jill Group, Achor Center, Inc.  provides participants with clothing that may be needed to obtain a job or to dress appropriately in the workplace.  J Jill Group donates brand new clothing, shoes, coats, and accessories that are distributed to participants.


Grandmothers Raising Grandchildren

In the United States there are 4.5 million children living in households headed by grandparents.  The number of grandparents responsible for caring for their grandchildren is rising. Between 1990 and 2000 there was a 30% increase in grandparents-headed households.  In Georgia 164,423 children are living with grandparents and of this number, 98,773 are living in the grandparents' household without either parent present.  Grandparents' acquiring sole responsibility for their grandchildren is a growing trend.  A total of 92,265 grandparents have reported in Georgia that they are responsible for their grandchildren living with them.  In Atlanta, 5,947 grandparents reported responsibility for their grandchildren. Twenty percent of these grandparents in Georgia live in poverty (U.S. Census Bureau, 2000).

Achor Center, Inc. is passionate about helping this very specific population.  Achor recognizes the growing need to support grandfamilies and is implementing innovative ways of providing help.  In addition to the permanent housing units for homeless grandmothers raising grandchildren, Achor also provides supportive services to grandfamilies in order to prevent homelessness.  Grandmothers can be referred to Achor's supportive services team who will provide in-home support connecting to resources that will assist the family in maintaining their housing or locating more appropriate housing.  Families will also be networked to services that will improve skills and development if necessary.

With many parents struggling with everyday stressors, grandparents are step in to prevent children from entering the foster care system. Achor strives to keep families together and is looking to the future with hopes of expanding services offered to grandfamilies.

Children & Youth Services

Homelessness produces difficulties and stress for entire families, but the impact of experiencing homelessness on children is significant. Children who experience homelessness are more likely to have health problems, poor nutrition, developmental delays, and educational under achievement.  Achor strives to reverse the negative impact of homelessness by providing customized, comprehensive children's services.  The services focus on promoting physical and emotional health of children, educational achievement, social skills development and recreational activities.  This is achieved through the development of an Action Plan for each child that identifies individual needs. The case manager links to necessary resources and provides advocacy to meet the specific needs. On-site services are also provided which include tutoring, etiquette classes, character building, age specific activities and socially significant activities.