Since March, BCM remains on the frontlines of the pandemic providing much needed emergency financial assistance to members in our community most at-risk for eviction. Right now, in just Fulton and DeKalb Counties alone, Atlanta has more than 14,000 open evictions, with tens of thousands awaiting their fate.
Thankfully, on September 1, the CDC issued an eviction moratorium through the end of the year, sending a lifeline to nearly 28 million American households. In Atlanta, this preserved housing for about 1 in 4 households. BCM continues working with stakeholders across the region to get much needed rental assistance to tens of thousands of tenants at-risk of evictions in the coming months.
As we prepare for the upcoming months, BCM’s main office, The Murray Building, will remain closed to regular in-person services – including the pantry – at least until the end of 2020 to continue to keep our staff, volunteers and clients safe during this pandemic. Despite BCM’s office closure, staff continue to execute on a scaled-up remote eviction prevention strategy, while sustaining Foundation 3 and Budget for Life. In addition, we are exploring ways to utilize the space to advance BCM’s mission while we remain remote.
In this edition of The Way you will get an inside look at how BCM is achieving our mission through the Emergency Assistance program. You will also find that although we hosted a successful, safe, and sold-out Tee It Up benefit golf tournament, the work ahead is substantial and will need your support. We want to ensure that BCM continues to be in great shape today and for the foreseeable future. Please contact us about how you can give or click here to make a generous donation to support our mission.
Our effort is far from over. In fact, the real test will come with the expiration of the eviction moratorium at the end of the year. According to The Aspen Institute, upward of 40 million Americans are at risk of eviction in the coming months. This predicted eviction surge is being labeled a “tsunami.” While we await God’s voice to command the storm to “be still,” we will continue to endeavor outward together into the uncertainty to protect those most at-risk from losing their homes.
Thank you for stepping outward with BCM.
Sincerely,
Keeva Kase
President & CEO
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23rd Annual Tee It Up Golf Tournament |
With a sigh of relief and a concurrent round of golf claps, we happily announce the completion of another successful day of golf at Peachtree Golf Club. On September 21, friends of BCM gathered at the course for the 23rd Annual Tee It Up Golf Tournament. For the past 23 years, avid golfers and supporters have come together to take part in this fundraising tournament, which supports BCM's mission to prevent homelessness and elevate economic opportunities for individuals and families in the greater Atlanta area. In a year that has invoked constant hurdles, we were humbled by the commitment to this event by our staff, sponsors, and players. Thanks to your unwavering support, we raised over $170,000, all of which will go toward BCM's efforts to foster a community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. We are grateful for Peachtree Golf Club hosting us at their beautiful venue, and for those of you who supported this event in person and prayer. Click here to view a list of 2020 sponsors and here to see additional photos from the event.
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The Inside Scoop: Being An Emergency Assistance Coordinator
Click here to watch an interview between our Emergency Assistance Coordinator, Hannah Jones, and our President & CEO, Keeva Kase, about what BCM is doing to serve the community.
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Grant Paves the Way for Community Partnership |
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In August, The City of Atlanta partnered with United Way of Greater Atlanta to help combat the ongoing negative impacts of COVID-19. Through this partnership, BCM was awarded a $2 million grant to help fund the amplified efforts that have been put into effect since the outbreak of the pandemic. This financial support will allow BCM to step up our financial assistance by hiring an additional Emergency Assistance team to support this effort. The new team will provide a critical staffing boost to help meet the augmented needs of our city incurred by the pandemic. All of the grant money awarded to BCM will go directly to providing aid to City of Atlanta (incorporated) residents who have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, and whose income after March 1 is at or below 60% of the Area Median Income by the end of this year.
BCM President & CEO, Keeva Kase, commented on the prominent need for immediate financial relief due to the virus: "How can one shelter in place without a shelter? How can a child effectively attend virtual school from home, without a home?" This grant, he explained, will allow BCM to triple, if not quadruple, the scale of its services to households in the City of Atlanta for up to three months. He called this partnership and the impact it is expected to make a "historic and essential effort to prevent homelessness for neighbors negatively affected by the pandemic."
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As a reminder, THRIFTique is open and operating on adjusted COVID-19 hours! The store is now open for shopping Tuesday-Saturday 11am-4pm following CDC guidelines for a safe shopping experience.
Additionally, THRIFTique is now mobile! The THRIFTique Truck was donated by Buckhead Church and will allow us to increase our store's delivery and pick-up capabilities. The truck will be used to pick up both individual donations and donation bins. It will also allow us to offer delivery for larger items for a small fee. Director of Retail Operations, Michelle Krompegal says, "We are excited about the ways the THRIFTique Truck will help us expand and promote our store and its mission." If you wish to schedule pick-up or delivery for items that require the use of the THRIFTiqueTruck, please email DonateTHRIFTique@bcmatlanta.org.
For furniture donations, please include the following information in your email: item name, dimensions (L x W x H in inches), and photos. Please note that we cannot accept items that are missing pieces, in need of repair, soiled, torn, or otherwise compromised. We appreciate your thoughtfulness and kind efforts!
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Buckhead THRIFTique Provides Free Clothing to Fire Victims |
In late August, the four-story Avana on Main apartment complex in Buckhead caught fire, leaving nearly 200 occupants in need of shelter and other services. When BCM received news of the fire, we immediately developed a plan to respond to the urgent needs of those affected. This is not the first time our quick-thinking staff has had to act with urgency and care; BCM's response to tenant displacement at the Darlington apartments, as well as to the new and amplified service needs related to COVID-19, are other testaments to the efficiency and effectiveness of our staff. In this case, we determined that the best immediate assistance we could offer would be to provide free clothing to residents of the complex. We have assisted families affected by the fire and will continue to make ourselves available to those in need of our services.
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You've asked us how you can contribute to BCM's mission in our community, so we've compiled a list of ways you can step outward with BCM:
1. Make a gift today by clicking here and providing our hard working neighbors a second chance at self-sufficiency.
2. Share your talents with us and volunteer by clicking here.
3. Pray for each staff member to have strength for the journey.
We need you now more than ever to step outward with BCM as we step forward into Fall and prepare for the new year.
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Shop, donate or volunteer at Buckhead THRIFTique to directly support BCM's programs!
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Shop AmazonSmile and earn donations for BCM! When you choose BCM at checkout, with every purchase, AmazonSmile donates .5% of the price of eligible purchases to our ministry. |
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When you buy or sell your house with A Happy House and Keller Williams Real Estate Agents, upon closing, you can choose BCM as the charity they'll support through the sale! |
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By enrolling in Kroger Community Rewards and selecting BCM, every trip to the grocery store using your Plus Card is a rewarding experience for BCM!
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Book your next move with Two Men And A Truck.
They give back to BCM!
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Two Men and a Truck donate their time, talents, and resources to BCM by providing moving services for our clients. Their services are invaluable to our clients, many of whom would otherwise be at a loss when it comes to moving transportation. As a way of showing our gratitude on behalf of our clients, we encourage you to book your next move with this company, which comes with a 96% customer referral rate. |
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