DRAKE HOUSE INC

Programs: The drake house, inc. Is a crisis residential assessment center for homeless women and children in north fulton county, georgia. It provides immediate residential housing, combined with an empowerment program designed to provide stability for the children and assist the family in working toward housing self-sufficiency. The drake house, inc. Addresses the long-standing need for emergency housing for women and children in the north fulton community. It offers residential housing and in-depth assessments to approximately forty to fifty families a year. Each family stays approximately ninety days. The target population is single mothers with minor children. These mothers may be unemployed or underemployed and lack sufficient income to meet all expenses of life in the north fulton community. Women and children entering the drake house are offered a variety of support services to empower and educate them and move them towards self-sufficiency. Residents participate in a goal setting process and an empowerment plan. Initial goals include addressing medical needs of the mother and the children, and the educational needs of the children. Onsite life skills classes are conducted every monday evening on topics such as job readiness, personal finances, parenting skills, and health and wellness. An advocacy program provides encouragement, motivation, and support during the family's stay. The goal of the drake house, inc. Is to create an environment that allows homeless families to be included in north fulton community life, enjoy a stabilized, improved quality of life, make increasingly responsible choices, exert greater control over their life competencies, develop and exercise their competencies and talents, and experience personal security and self-respect.