Free house, furniture is prize in benefit for Atlanta Mission: No donation required

By David Pendered

In the midst of a shortage of affordable housing, only about 1,200 folks have entered a sweepstakes to win a new $406,000 house – with furniture – in Atlanta’s West Highlands neighborhood. There’s no minimum donation, and the goal is to raise money for a new shelter for homeless women and children.

The sweepstakes ends Jan. 3, 2020. Entries can be submitted on line at this webpage.

No purchase or donation is necessary. Admission is open to legal residents of Georgia, who are 18 years or older, according to a legal disclaimer.

Though there’s no minimum contribution, donations are desired because the goal is to raise $1 million for Atlanta Mission, sometimes called the Atlanta Union Mission.

Since Sept. 23, the benefit has raised a bit more than $100,000, according to a description posted on the Atlanta Mission’s website.

The Atlanta Mission intends to build an overnight shelter to provide 100 beds to homeless women and children in a facility located near the Atlanta waterworks, in Northwest Atlanta. Presently, services are available only during the daytime.

The only limit in the sweepstakes is a cap of 50 entries per person. Otherwise, the number of entries is based on this formula:

• Any donation up to $24.99 – 1 Entry
• $25 – 2 Entries
• $50 – 5 Entries
• $75 – 7 Entries
• $100 – 10 Entries
• $100-plus – Calculated based on tiers above

Brock Built Homes is donating the house. Partners in the project include Atlanta Housing, Atlanta Mission and Underpriced Furniture. Contributors include Sherwin Williams, Moen, Shaw Floors, GA Granite, and RGP Heating and Cooling.

Steve Brock, the founding president, started the company in 1984. The company was a pioneer in Atlanta’s westside neighborhoods, including near the site the former Perry Homes housing project, once operated by Atlanta Housing, The company is developing a mixed use project near the intersection of Northside Drive and Donald Lee Hollowell Boulevard.

Brock said in a statement when the sweepstakes was launched, on Sept. 23:

• “Since 1984, Brock Built Homes has championed the investment into our local Atlanta communities.
• “We are thrilled to continue that tradition through our involvement in the Building Hope and a Future Dream Home Sweepstakes, which will raise money to improve the lives of a vulnerable population of our neighbors who are experiencing homelessness.”

The Atlanta Mission describes the project in these terms, according to the variance filed for permission to build part of the planned structure:

• “A day shelter for women and children has long operated on the property, providing food, medical care and other essential services to clients who, because it was only a day shelter, were required to leave the premises each evening to seek overnight shelter elsewhere…..
• “When completed, the shelter will provide kitchen and dining facilities, areas for medical attention, counseling and social work, play areas for children, and sleeping space for 75 to 100 beds.”

The Atlanta Mission elaborates on the message above in a presentation on the sweepstakes page:

• “Last year, more than 4,000 women and children sought shelter at Atlanta Mission. There are roughly 900 shelter beds currently available for them in Atlanta. This leaves many women and children without a safe place to stay.
  “Meeting this need is our top priority.
• Atlanta Mission is building an innovative, new facility to provide critical services for over 4,500 women and children, as well as 100 additional shelter beds.
• “Together we can make a difference.”