For the 2023-2024 fundraising year, the Circle is supporting City of Refuge in its efforts to serve homeless and marginalized Atlanta children. City of Refuge is a shelter and neighborhood center, which that barely begins to describe the work of the organization.
In addition to housing homeless children and their mothers, City of Refuge provides daycare, preschool, after school programs, psychological and therapeutic services, plus medical care and on-site school via in house partners, all under one roof.
Parents can attend job training and receive assistance with job placement. Unlike many shelters, there is no limit on how long a family can stay as long as the mothers are working toward their goals.
After an average of six months in the shelter, families can choose to rent affordable nearby housing also owned by the City of Refuge.
Although the shelter is for women and children only, City of Refuge also provides job training and medical services to men in the community, many of whom are fathers. In addition they have a residential program for women escaping sex trafficking and are in the process of opening a similar program for trafficked children.
City of Refuge serves clients holistically, treating them with dignity and acknowledging their intrinsic value. This comprehensive approach results in better outcomes for their residents and better futures for the children. It helps to break the cycle of poverty, homelessness, and abuse that are too common in historically marginalized and economically disadvantaged communities. They are working not from afar, but where the help is needed as an integral part of the community.
In addition to our primary beneficiary, The Circle also funds scholarships for underprivileged youth via the Linda Gross Memorial Scholarship Fund. You can find more information about our scholarship program on the Scholarship page. Other beneficiaries of the Circle in previous years include Devereux Behavioral Health, The Bridge, Good Samaritan, Chris Kids, Center for Children and Young Adults, Safe Path, Tallulah Falls School, Wellspring Living and My House.
Our Long Range Planning committee works throughout the year to identify organizations that fit our mission for assistance through monetary donations, hands-on programs, and/or specific one time events we can support.