Grant to fuel expansion of DeKalb County organization
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Auburn-based not-for-profit Fortify Life is growing its capacity to serve individuals and families in need, thanks to a $600,000 grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis.
Our partners a WPTA-TV report the funding will allow the organization to nearly double the amount of available emergency shelter space.
Currently, Fortify Life can support 13 families who are facing homelessness or other form of housing crisis.
“When we’re done with renovations, we’re gonna expand to 24 rooms,” Executive Director Mitch Figert told WPTA. “So, we’ll have both the front our facility and the back open. In addition, we have two apartments on the second level that will be able to serve larger families.”
But the expansion is about more than just additional rooms. Figert said the renovations will include creating a program space that will allow for classes of 30-40 people at a time focusing on education, transportation, housing and finances to help the impacted individuals get back on their feet.
“We’ll be able to invite the community in to come take classes with their neighbors, these individuals who are also their neighbors from Dekalb County,” Figert said.
The renovated space will also feature a full on-site kitchen and on-site laundry, according to Figert. The organization is also currently seeking volunteers and donations, information on which can be found on the organization’s website.