Community Impact

The work we are doing not only impacts the lives of neighbors we serve, it affects the entire community. When our neighbors successfully accomplish their goals, they are often better employees. Most of our neighbors are great workers when we meet them, but the challenges they are working to overcome can have a negative impact on job performance. When our neighbors have a home, a support system, and a plan, they are empowered to show up to work with renewed energy and a positive attitude.

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Dekalb County has so many people doing good work to make sure everyone has the food they need. From non-profit organizations operating food pantries to assist people with groceries, to churches serving meals, to our neighborhood pantries that are filled by residents and utilized by neighbors across the county, there is a lot of help available. Fortify Life is working to maximize these efforts by gaining understanding about what food is accessed and why. Do our neighbors have what they need to prepare meals? How can we improve? By partnering and listening we are creating a more effective network to help neighbors access the food they need while they work toward greater stability.

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Healthcare is also positively impacted. By assisting our neighbors with accessing health benefits they qualify for, our neighbors are able to access the care they need through the appropriate channels. It is a common practice for uninsured persons to utilize the emergency room when they need to see a doctor. This is the most expensive and inefficient way to address health concerns. By equipping our neighbors with what they need to make different choices, our healthcare systems work more effectively and outcomes are improved through access to more preventative care. This is true for both mental healthcare and physical health.

 

We are grateful for the police officers, courts, and criminal justice workers in our community. We know one challenge they face is recidivism, or people who complete their sentence and then make a choice that results in a new charge or case. While there will always be a need for our criminal justice system, we hope to positively impact their results by equipping our neighbors exiting the legal system with what they need to make different choices and experience improved outcomes. One way we are doing this is through a partnership with Dekalb County Community Corrections. Neighbors who have access to better options can make choices that positively impact our entire community.