Housing assistance offered to Dougherty Co. residents

ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - Two organizations have teamed up to help people who have been impacted by the pandemic.

United Way of South Georgia, and New Visions Community Development are starting housing assistance this week to keep families off of the streets.

They’re helping with rent, mortgage, as well as utility bills.

Andrea Revills, Executive Director of New Visions, said anyone affected by COVID-19 qualifies.

“I don’t know one household, that has not been impacted by this pandemic. So, you know, personally, I look at restaurant workers, I look at people who provide services, such as you know the hair salons the barbershops, places of that nature, waitresses. You know those people especially I think may have been the hardest hit, because they don’t go to work, they don’t make the money, you know they can’t make money, and they don’t have sick leave,” Revills said.

She says it’s so very important to help when they can because a lot of people have not been able to go to work and they have children.

“When you think about people who live paycheck to paycheck. You know they are just one paycheck, away from being homeless, and of course we certainly do not want to add to the homeless population in Albany,” she said.

If you need assistance all you have to do is call 211, for a reference number which is your access ticket to secure the funds.

“We’re looking to do this for however long you know people are in need, or funds run out.”

This service is available for those living in Dougherty county, but if you know someone outside of the county needing help, they will be able to point you in the direction of organizations in surrounding counties.

You can also follow the New Visions Community Development Facebook page for a look at future events helping the community.

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Here is a release provided by the organization:

United Way of Southwest Georgia Reveals Initial Round of COVID-19 Community Relief Grants

ALBANY, GA – The first official mini-grants from United Way of Southwest Georgia's COVID-19 Community Relief Fund were awarded Wednesday, April 22nd. The community relief fund was launched to quickly address the economic challenges of COVID-19 by rapidly deploying resources to community-based organizations in need of funds to meet the immediate needs of individuals affected by the crisis. Under the direction of the distribution committee, the community relief fund was able to allocate $72,000 to ten nonprofit organizations in the initial round of funding.

The first round of funding focuses on meeting the most basic health and safety needs. The emergency needs within this round of funding respond to the impact areas of rent/mortgage assistance, access to food, utilities assistance, childcare and safety to high risk individuals. Grant recipients for the first round are as follows: A Better Way Grocers, Cutliff Grove Family Resource Center, Feeding the Valley Albany, Hope City United, Inspiritus, Lee County Family Connection, New Visions Community Development Corporation, Sherwood Baptist Church, St. Teresa’s Catholic Church and the Phoebe Foundation. Each of these nonprofit organizations has demonstrated the ability and capacity to address needs and serve high risk and vulnerable populations in their specified impact areas.

The distribution committee is comprised of a cross-section of community leaders who have committed to volunteering their time and expertise to ensure to the most effective appropriation of resources during this critical time. Committee members are: Sharon Subadan (City of Albany), Michael McCoy (Dougherty County Government), Demetrius Love (Molson Coors), Lequrica Gaskins (City of Albany), Valerie Bowron (Draffin Tucker), Clifton Bush (Albany Area Primary Health Care), Cathi Jones (Procter & Gamble), Jennifer Wilson (Ameris Bank) and Kerri Davis (City of Albany).

Support funds will be released on a rolling basis throughout the outbreak and recovery phases of this crisis, making it possible to deploy resources quickly and adapt to evolving needs in subsequent funding phases. Applications for the second round of funding will be announced in the coming weeks.

“Southwest Georgia has a long history of uniting in times of crisis,” Shaunae Motley, president and CEO, United Way of Southwest Georgia, said. “This is an unprecedented challenge for our lifetime, and every resident, public agency and organization must do their part to lessen the spread and community impact of COVID-19. We are grateful to our partners, for their leadership and commitment to helping us establish the Southwest Georgia Community Relief Fund to provide emergency assistance to those who need it most.”

The generous contributions from corporations, foundations and individuals include: Wildfair Plantation Family & Friends, Turner Foundation, Inc., Betty & Davis Fitzgerald Foundation, The Fisher Crum Foundation (in memory of Judge Nancy Stephenson), Community Foundation of South Georgia, The Golden Triangle RC&D, Truist Foundation, UPS and others.

To make a donation:

Visit: www.unitedwayswga.org/give

Text: FIGHT COVID to 313131

Call: 229-886-1285

Mailing a check to: United Way of Southwest Georgia, P.O. Box 70429, Albany, GA 31708.

Volunteer opportunities

United Way is monitoring the needs of our community to organize volunteers and coordinate volunteer opportunities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the most timely and safe manner possible. For more information, visit: www.unitedwayswga.org/neighbor-mutual-aid.

About United Way of Southwest Georgia

For over 65 years, United Way of Southwest Georgia has been an innovative force in the community, successfully responding to emerging needs and transforming people’s lives. Today our work is focused on education, financial stability and health – the building blocks for a good life. We invest in quality programs, advocate for better policies, engage people in the community and generate resources. United Way of Southwest Georgia serves a geographic territory of thirteen counties including: Baker, Calhoun, Crisp, Dooly, Dougherty, Early, Lee, Mitchell, Randolph, Sumter, Terrell, Wilcox and Worth. To learn more, visit http://www.unitedwayswga.org.

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