WHO WE ARE
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MISSION: Supporting people experiencing homelessness in DeKalb County by providing rapid rehousing, and partnering with community and government groups to provide emergency shelter and to advocate for more affordable housing.
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VISION: Safe, affordable, and stable housing that is easily attainable for everyone in DeKalb County.
A Home For Everyone In DeKalb: A Collaborative Initiative on Homelessness launched in August 2017.
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It began as an exploratory series of meetings convened by Rob Johnson and Shelly Fine, DeKalb professionals with long experience serving unhoused individuals. They saw an urgent need to engage the wider community to expand basic services to people experiencing homelessness. Rob and Shelly gathered a group of community leaders to assess the current status of homeless services, identify noticeable gaps, and make plans.
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After nine months of study and consultation, the group expanded and re-branded itself as “A Home For Everyone In DeKalb: A Collaborative Initiative on Homelessness” with the goal of educating, engaging, and empowering a wider group of organizations and individuals to help people experiencing homelessness in our county. AHFEID' would focus on the key area of limited housing.
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We launched a Winter Freeze/Cold Weather Shelter initiative. Beginning in January 2019, AHFEID opened two cold weather shelters, at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church and North Decatur Presbyterian Church. We developed a shelter manual, organized fundraising, supplied the shelters, recruited volunteers, and played the coordinating role that allowed the shelters to run efficiently.
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In the first year, the two shelters served 70 individuals experiencing homelessness, including 18 women and 7 children, over 20 nights. ​
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Now, with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, in November of 2019, we again opened a cold weather shelter at Decatur First United Methodist Church in downtown Decatur, serving 79 adults, including 31 women and ten children, over 26 nights with the help of 51 volunteers.
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The next step was to focus on its original goal of filling the gap in permanent housing. With its extra funds, AHFEID planned to pay the first month rent, security and utility deposits for those who were living in hotels and were unable to save for these expenses. It aimed to do the same for those experiencing homelessness but in a less expensive rooming house situation.​​​
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In December 2022 We bought a house where 3 single men can live at a time, while paying 35% of their income in rent. We raised $230,000 with the help of United Way. To help tenants achieve these goals, we will provide case management services. Check out what's going on at the house.
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In 2025, we began raising funds for "The Women's Workforce Program" in collaboration with Georgia Works and the Oakhurst Center For Community. Learn more about the program here
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