Drake House Interview
Interview with Christy Merritt, director of programs at The Drake house.
Q: Can talk to me a little bit about the families you serve and how they come to your organization?
A: The Drake House opened its doors in 2006 to single mothers and their children who are experiencing homelessness in this North- Fulton area. The reason that population was chosen is because that was the largest unmet need in the Roswell/North-Fulton community. The volunteers who started the Drake House talked to different non-profit partners and learned about community needs and that we needed an emergency housing program in this area. We needed an emergency housing program because there was never one, and the need was there, so that was how the population was decided.
Q: What has been the current biggest challenge with your charity and what was the biggest problem problem when starting?
A: The biggest problem when we started the charity that still exists today is the need for after hours childcare. If you see signs in businesses advertising that they have jobs, it is usually a restaurant or retail place, which will want you to work evening and weekends. There is not any daycare during those times, which is why many homeless single mothers cannot fill those positions. Another main problem that we are facing now is the lack of affordable housing. In North- Fulton, Sandy Springs, and really almost everywhere in America the lower costing apartments are being teared down to make room for fancy, expensive apartments.
Q: How do you help the people coming to the Drake House become independent?
A: While people are at the Drake House, our services are geared towards independence. Through all of the required steps and programs, the families are making changes in the way they do things, learning new information, increasing their income, and getting better/any employment. We have the moms fill out a worksheet asking questions about their goals and needs, which gives us a roadmap to help them in certain areas. Another piece is that in order to qualify for our program, the family has to put housing as the first thing on their checklist. The biggest obstacle stoping families from focusing on housing are car payments. When families buy used cars, they will buy it from a lot that charges high interest rates. The percentage of their income that is being spent on transportation is way out of balance with what the recommended formula is. We have to talk to the families and tell them that we will provide housing, but housing must be their first priority.
Q: How can kids help with homelessness?
A: We are not able to involve kids in volunteering because many of the kids we serve go to the schools around here and so would most of the children volunteering. Some of the things we are most in need of though are toilet paper, diapers, feminine hygiene products, and other things like that. We are need of those items because (although we still do need food) the only things food stamps cover, are food, so the families do not have the money to buy things like that. So one thing that kids can do is donate items such as these.
Q: As far as government programs that support child care, are there some?
A: Yes there is a government program that supports child care. But the trick is to qualify for that program you have to be unemployed. If you get a job and apply there is a different pool of money for that, but that pot of money seems to always be empty.