SAVANNAH — United Way of the Coastal Empire, in partnership with Kole Management Company, has launched the Independent Housing Collaborative, an initiative dedicated to helping qualified individuals and families build stable housing and self-sufficient lives.
The initiative, which includes many local agencies and companies, serves homeless individuals and families who are currently enrolled in local human-service programs or those who have been displaced by fire or any other disaster.
Kole, a Savannah-based real estate management and investment company that operates nine apartment communities in Savannah and Garden City, granted five units to provide clients with transitional housing.
Other local corporate supporters — Georgia Power Company, city of Savannah, Comcast and Furniture Rentals — helped with utility services and home furnishing. The collaborative is the only transitional housing collaborative in Coastal Empire that is operated directly through individual for-profit companies from the region.
“For many people who are homeless, transitional housing plays a key role toward achieving economic independence and self-sufficiency,” said Gregg Schroeder, president and CEO of United Way of the Coastal Empire. “The agencies and companies participating in the initiative have taken an important first step in enhancing our community by seeking viable and measurable options that will help them meet their unique housing needs. United Way is especially grateful to Kole Management Company for taking the lead in this initiative.”
“We’re delighted to be participating in this community initiative,” said Jeff Kole, president of Kole Management Company and United Way board chair. “By bringing together government, nonprofit agencies and private service providers like Georgia Power and Comcast, we’re able to make the greatest impact and to share best practices with each other. The results for individuals and families are inspiring, and the collaboration among organizations is gratifying.”
The collaborative provides in-home case management to assist with a variety of interventions to help individuals and families achieve stability and retain housing, including budgeting skills, community resource information, problem-solving skills and basic home maintenance.
The initiative receives referral from a variety of homeless service providers in the Coastal Empire community, such as American Red Cross, Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Empire, Interfaith Hospitality Network, JC Lewis Primary Health Care, The Salvation Army and Union Mission.
The first client helped by the collaborative moved in last November. Since then, the program has assisted 10 families (30 individuals) and has provided services with a value of more than $40,000.
For more information or to get help, call 912-651-7712 or email tjones@uwce.org.