CaringWorks launched with four housing programs (including three afterschool centers), four staff, and a shoestring budget of $156K. The organization was built on the single idea that all people, no matter their social or economic standing, should have a chance to improve their quality of life.

Located in downtown Atlanta across from City Hall, CaringWorks opened Hope House, a 70-bed residential facility providing quality housing and structured support to adult men experiencing homelessness.

The organization earned its first Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) Accreditation, which signals a service provider's commitment to continually improving services, encouraging feedback, and serving the community. All CaringWorks programs are CARF-accredited, and they earn re-accreditation every three years.

CaringWorks was awarded its first Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant. These funds—and subsequent SAMHSA grants—have enabled the organization to significantly expand its impact and the services it offers.

CaringWorks launched a residential treatment program at Hope House, providing additional services including substance abuse treatment, mental health services, and recovery support.

CaringWorks also launched its Deaf Bridges to Recovery (DBR) homeless program (formerly called the Deaf or Hard of Hearing program), becoming the only program of its kind in the Southeast. The program includes residential treatment and recovery services for homeless individuals who are Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, Deaf-Blind, Deaf Plus and Late-Deafened. Only four comparable programs currently exist in the United States, yet estimates show that thousands of homeless individuals need these services.

Additionally, the organization launched a “housing first” approach to permanent supportive housing so that clients have a safe place to live as they receive other supportive services designed to help them reach their own level of independence and self-sufficiency.

Medicaid funding for peer support services expanded the behavioral health services available to our clients. These services help clients achieve their goals by promoting socialization, recovery, wellness, self-advocacy, development of natural supports, and maintenance of community living skills.

By becoming a Medicaid-funded provider for outpatient services—known as Tier II services—CaringWorks can better align our housing and behavioral health services to promote optimal client outcomes. Personalized treatment plans with services delivered in our clients’ homes provide an important level of support to help clients achieve stability and success.

CaringWorks earned the Community Impact Award from Georgians for a Healthy Future, and the Bridge Builder Award from the Georgia Alliance to End Homelessness.

The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) named CaringWorks as an Outstanding Behavioral Health Provider. DBHDD has six regions across the state. CaringWorks is located in Region 3 and was selected among hundreds of other agencies represented in the region.

CaringWorks launched ASPIRE (Advancing Self-Reliance, Pride, Independence, Resilience and Empowerment), a new program aimed at improving the overall health outcomes and quality of life for each of our clients. The program centers on a customized approach that starts with our in-house nurse meeting with each client to conduct a general health assessment, set health goals, and develop a personal health plan. Then, we come alongside them with services and education to provide access to proper nutrition, exercise, mental health resources, and other positive health-affirming behaviors.

The Atlanta Business Chronicle recognized CaringWorks as one of Atlanta’s 75 largest nonprofit organizations.

CaringWorks quickly adapted to the challenges of COVID-19 and increased efforts to provide access to housing and services, serving more clients than ever before. The organization expanded its staff, and launched new programs such as RISE Fulton, a permanent supportive housing for senior women, and MOVE DeKalb, a program serving single mothers with children. Additionally, through SPARC, a collaboration of providers and funders focused on racial equity, CaringWorks helped enlighten our entire philanthropic community with training on the challenges that racism plays in perpetuating homelessness in Atlanta.

Leveraging a team of 70+ employees and nearly 40 contractors on an operating budget approaching $13 million, CaringWorks now operates 15 housing programs, a residential addiction treatment program, and a social enterprise venture that offers comprehensive outpatient behavioral health services.