Goodwill Foundation: What's Happening?

December 2006 - Homeless Families to Benefit from New Local Initiative

Goodwill, GAIHN and Upstate Homeless Coalition to Collaborate for Transitional Housing Project

Goodwill Foundation has partnered with Goodwill Industries, Upstate Homeless Coalition, and Greenville Area Interfaith Hospitality Network (GAIHN) on a project which will provide transitional housing, education and job training, counseling, and job placement to five local families to assist them in becoming economically independent. Each partner provides a pivotal step in the success of the program with Goodwill Foundation providing capital and serving as a focal point for all collaboration.

“This is an important collaborative effort for those families in the area who need our help,” said Anthony Liller, director of the Goodwill Foundation.

Goodwill Industries will assist in the family selection as well as providing initial job training and job placement for the chosen families. The Upstate Homeless Coalition will build five homes in the Greenline/Spartanburg area that will house these families. GAIHN will provide these families with weekly caseworker visits to provide encouragement and life skills counseling.

“One of the most important things about this initiative is that it recognizes that housing and employment are the keys to ending homelessness,” said Mike Chesser, executive director Upstate Homeless Coalition. “It takes both.”

Goodwill Foundation is providing $50,000 toward the effort. Other financial partners include the city of Greenville and the South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority.

“The wonderful thing about this transitional housing collaborative is that it is an excellent partnership between three reputable organizations in which each group gets to do what it does well,” said Tony McDade, director of GAIHN. The Upstate Homeless Coalition will build and manage the homes, Goodwill Foundation will provide funds for the needed services and job training and opportunity and GAIHN will screen and lead in selecting the families, keep them motivated and manage caseloads. The goal is to help these families achieve economic independence through employment adequate to sustain permanent, affordable housing.”

A full time case manager, the Rev. Cornell Richardson, has been hired through funds provided by a three-year grant from Greenville United Way. McDade said that the effort is also made possible by the congregations of the 26 hosts and congregations that support GAIHN.

The property is located near the David Hellams Community Center just off Spartanburg Street in northeast Greenville.

Groundbreaking for the project is scheduled for early 2007.

If you have questions or comments please contact Anthony Liller at (864) 351-0149 or by email.

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