Our Mission
Nicholas House’s mission is to help homeless families become self-sufficient by providing them with a temporary place to live while addressing the root causes of their homelessness so that they never become homeless again.
Our Vision
Collaborating with other agencies and members of the community, Nicholas House plans to end family homelessness in Metro Atlanta by 2020.
Our Values
Nicholas House provides services based in commitment, integrity and operational excellence. We pride ourselves on professionalism and clear communication from all staff members. We also seek to continually identify new avenues for growth and learning with staff, volunteers and clients and work to ensure best practices in all of our programs.
Unique Features
Nicholas House has 3 unique features that differentiate it from other homeless service providers:
- We are the only shelter in Atlanta to keep homeless families together regardless of composition.
- Our programs are accountability-based. Clients entering Nicholas House programs set unique goals with their case managers and meet regularly with their case managers to measure progress toward their goals. Continued participation in programs is determined by clients’ effort toward goals.
- We are outcome-oriented. We don’t just want to provide homeless families with temporary food and shelter, we want them to be self-sufficient for the rest of their lives. That’s why we follow families for up to two years after graduation from Nicholas House programs—and why we know that around 75% of clients remain self-sufficient a year or more after graduation.
Impact
Nicholas House has served over 13,000 homeless family members since its founding in 1982.
Last year, we helped 618 homeless parents and children from 167 different families on the path to self-sufficiency while keeping their families intact. In the coming year, we hope to help even more to help meet the need in our community.
Last year:
- 71% of Nicholas House families increased income
- 32% of Nicholas House families decreased debt;
- 89% of the children in our After-School Program had a measureable improvement in their behavior;
- 100% of children in our shelter matriculated to the next grade level;
- 85% of children in our shelter improved their report card by a letter grade or more;
- 29% of children in our shelter were on the honor roll;
- 75% of families remained self-sufficient a year or more after exiting programs.
Thanks to Nicholas House services, homeless parents and children are able to return to being participating members of their communities as employees, students and volunteers. They are given the path to a brighter future—and that is all possible thanks to the support of people like you.
Nicholas House Inc. could not function without our volunteers. Volunteers contribute over 7,000 hours of service every year to 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