Our programs are broken into two main divisions; The "LifeLine" and Resource & Training.

The “Lifeline” is the initial entry point for exposure to the programs of City of Refuge. Our mission is to meet the initial needs of the last, the lost and the least of the city of Atlanta. This entry point gives the greatest opportunity for both volunteerism and charitable support. Our purpose is to take literally the words of Christ in Luke 14:23 to “go into the highways and byways and compel them to come in” to the Master’s banquet.

The Resource and Training Department of City of Refuge has been established to provide tools and provisions that will enable individuals and families to make positive, long term changes in their lives. While the outreach programs of the “Lifeline” provide immediate, short term assistance in times of crisis, and service delivery is based purely upon need; “Resource and Training” are provided over months, even years, and service delivery is based upon a demonstrated commitment, and capacity, to change.

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Eden Village

Since the inception of the outreach ministry eleven years ago, one consistent part of the CITY OF REFUGE dream has been to develop a transitional living and training center for women in crisis. Three years ago that dream led to initiation of a cold weather shelter for homeless women that began with capacity for thirty and quickly expanded to fifty beds. A year passed and the program realized expansion to thirty year round beds and one hundred thirty available beds during the winter months. Another year passed and CITY OF REFUGE was approached by the city of Atlanta with the idea of building out a Transitional Center for women and children. In short, earlier this year CITY OF REFUGE was awarded a 1.5 million dollar grant by the Housing Opportunity Fund, funding partner for the Atlanta Development Agency, for the purpose of the build-out.

Eden Village, which opened December 1, 2008, includes forty-four individual living units with a maximum capacity of 132 persons. Single women and/or mothers with children can live in the center for up to 120 days. With assistance from case managers, they will then transition into their own apartments or houses where they will continue to receive rental assistance for the next three months. The program will be managed by Fulton County Department of Human Services and will include case management, mental and physical health services, job training and placement, and child care.

Eden Village promises to be one of the most innovative, productive, and dynamic of all CITY OF REFUGE ministries. Please consider how you may get involved. Sponsors can fully outfit a living unit for $1000 and can have their names or a title of their choice assigned to that unit. What a great gift – to bless a homeless lady or a desperate mother and her children with a new chance in life!

Click Here for the Sponsorship Form

For more information on the Eden Village, please contact Rena Simpson.

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