About Us
Our organization is unique and ambitious. We have become known in Auburn and across Dekalb County as the place to go if you have a housing crisis. It is true that we provide emergency and transitional housing in Dekalb County, but this work serves a larger purpose.
There are people who desire to see a change in their lives, but the deck seems stacked against them. Some struggle to find employment that can cover their expenses. Some struggle to get connected to the healthcare they need. Some experience an unexpected expense or challenge and struggle to recover. We’ve all heard the phrase, “The struggle is real.” We believe the solutions are real too.
There are many organizations in our county doing great work to affect change, but there has not been effective networking. For many people, accessing the support they need is extremely difficult. Sometimes their circumstances don’t quite fit the solutions available, and they fall between the cracks. This is where Fortify Life comes in. We exist to help people access the support they need to accomplish their goals, and when we identify a gap in support, to innovate and create new opportunities for success.
Very early on we found that many of the people coming to us were facing a housing emergency. They were either homeless or vulnerable to lose their housing. There was no emergency housing provider in Dekalb County and very limited affordable housing options. Fortify Life held an Emergency Housing Roundtable with 10 community partners to better understand what was being done and how we might improve. We quickly learned that everyone present was aware of the problem and working to help where they could, but there was no cohesive strategy. Fortify Life offered to create a centralized process for persons in Dekalb County facing a housing emergency to get the help they needed. From December 2021 through August 2022 Fortify Life provided emergency stays in local hotels. At the end of August 2022, Fortify Life opened Fortify Home, a 13-room facility which we own and operate located at 1115 W 7th Street in Auburn. In 2023 our capacity will double, following a significant remodeling project. Along with housing, neighbors who stay with us receive case management to better understand their situation and work at solutions. We assist our neighbors in accessing the support they need, and in the process, we are able to identify strengths and weaknesses in the system of solutions.
We also recognize that part of the solution is empowered and engaged leaders. Leadership is vital to the progress of organizations and communities. Leadership is not a title or position, but an activity. To strengthen leadership across our county and region, Fortify Leads was established. Fortify Leads is the flip side of the coin in our work. While Fortify Life works to remove barriers and overcome challenges, Fortify Leads works to maximize strengths and provide leaders with the tools they need to create the change they want to see. For more on Fortify Leads, please visit their site here.
The outcome of our work is greater success for individuals seeking self-sufficiency, a more stable workforce for employers, a more effective and efficient healthcare system by helping neighbors gain insurance coverage and access to the care they need, a reduced burden on the courts and corrections system, and a stronger community as a whole.
We still have so much to learn, but one thing we know for sure is that the solutions that will benefit all of us will require all of us. The work we are seeking to undertake is one of a community catalyst. We need engaged partners across the county. There is an opportunity for everyone to be involved in this amazing work. From community leaders to business owners to families and kids. We need community mentors, we need advocates, we need people willing to help out with painting and landscaping, and we need stronger relationships and social support. Regardless of your skillset or interest, there are ways to engage.
The challenges we have spoken of don’t belong to one person or one organization and neither do the solutions. We are so excited about what we can accomplish together. So much progress has already been made, but we have much yet to do. We invite you to join us.