In 2009, nearly 70 percent of Georgia’s fourth graders were not proficient readers, despite abundant research on the importance of third-grade reading proficiency for school and lifelong success. In 2010, to ensure that all Georgia’s children reach this milestone, Gov. Nathan Deal made literacy his top education priority, and Georgia launched a statewide campaign supporting a range of efforts by public and private entities. From these efforts came the Get Georgia Reading Campaign, a long range comprehensive literacy program bringing together many partners in the community to support young readers in our community.  Learning to read proficiently by the third grade is critical to not only the child and their future, but on a larger scale to our nation’s overall sustainability.  By third grade the child should be capable to transition from Learning to Read, to Reading to Learn.  Without the ability to read to learn, the child gets further and further behind and is at greater and greater risk for life long negative outcomes including disciplinary issues, dropping out of school, teenage pregnancy, and lower overall ability to provide for themselves.  All of these factors have a tremendous impact on the individual and society as a whole.

Nicholas House provides supportive services through their shelter on Boulevard Avenue, through their scattered-site apartment rapid re-housing program Homeless to Homes (H2H), and their newly launched New Horizons program for chronically homeless families. All families have up to two years of follow-up support after leaving direct services.

Nicholas House understands that providing basic subsistence – food and shelter – is necessary but not sufficient to prevent most homeless families from becoming homeless again. Three main goals and three unique factors make Nicholas House an incredibly special place where positive, lasting change happens.  80% of the families served maintain their own housing a year or more after exiting the Nicholas House program.

Multiple Tracks and Custom Solutions
The Nicholas House two-tiered approach to solving homelessness is unique to Atlanta. No matter what level of need or stage of homelessness a family finds themselves in, they have a program to meet the family's unique situation.

The New Horizons program is a housing first model for chronically homeless families with disabilities. These families have the greatest barriers, requiring longer time-frames and more support to become self-sufficient. These families have been homeless for an extended time and face significant challenges such as mental health issues, substance abuse, and physical disability. They place these families immediately into permanent support housing in apartments leased by Nicholas House – straight from street outreach teams or emergency shelters.  Once families are settled in, case managers provide additional services that incorporate best practice approaches based on national research. These include harm reduction and motivational interviewing techniques.

The NHI shelter located off Boulevard Avenue in the Grant Park area provides long-term care and assistance for families with no income. This shelter has room to house 12 homeless families, which includes accommodations for a family of 10.

Their Homeless to Homes (H2H) apartment-based program is available to families with jobs who are past the need for a shelter environment but who still benefit from training, rental subsidy, time and assistance to rebuild their lives. Other shelters and agencies throughout the city rely on the H2H program to place their residents.

The Nicholas House Home Again program provides initial support for homeless families with ENOUGH income to pay ongoing rent but without the larger initial funds required to obtain their own apartment.  Nicholas House provides upfront support with application fees, utility and rental deposits, moving costs, initial months rent and other cost barriers to establishing housing. The family is then able to maintain housing long-term on their own based on their income.

Through an After School Program, the school-age children receive counseling, encouragement, help with homework, and a chance to foster camaraderie and a love of learning that will last a lifetime. NHI Adult Education classes do the same for their parents.

Nicholas House could not function without volunteers and donations. Over 6,000 individuals each year assist with every aspect of maintaining the agency and its programs.

• Improving facilities and grounds
• Tutoring and supervising our children
• Running the front office
• Presenting educational courses to residents
• Preparing meals
• Mentoring individuals