Marla and Vernon were grateful to own their own home in Atlanta’s Westside neighborhood. They saw it as their sanctuary. But when they discovered that the home was not insulated, it became a burden. Their monthly electric bill was $849—more than the mortgage—but that still wasn’t enough to keep the family warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Worst of all, the situation was becoming hazardous for their daughter, who had been diagnosed with cancer. Marla felt she had only one thing to do—start praying.
Those prayers were answered when Groundswell came to Marla’s church and chose her to be a part of its Westside Resilience Corridor Project, which is funded in part by the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. Groundswell provides critical repairs and energy-efficient upgrades to help residents create healthier, more comfortable homes. Contractors came and insulated Marla and Vernon’s home from floor to ceiling, sealed off gaps where air was coming in, and installed a new air conditioning unit. For Marla, her home no longer feels like a burden: “It’s a breath of fresh air.”
