HOME & REAL ESTATE
Trends � Development � City Living
Community Care CHRIS 180 building new home for longtime Westside resident, young mothers By Collin Kelley
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HRIS 180, the Atlanta-based nonprofit organization dedicated to providing trauma-informed holistic health services to children, youth and families, held a groundbreaking ceremony to announce the launch of a project to stabilize families on Atlanta’s Westside. CHRIS 180 partnered with the MicroLife Institute to construct a singlefamily home in the Washington Park neighborhood for Deborah Glover, a 71-year-old woman who has lived in the area for decades, in a shed without water or electricity. Glover connected with CHRIS 180 through its Community Health Worker program at the Westside Empowerment Center. After staff members met with Glover and learned about her situation, the CHRIS 180 team explored options with her – one of which was micro-living. Due to Glover’s passion for her community and mentoring, she suggested that she could help young mothers in the community who needed a safe place to live. CHRIS 180’s Chief Operating Officer, Cindy Simpson, and MicroLife Institute teamed up to draw up plans for a new
The groundbreaking on Ashby Terrace in Washington Park.
home that Glover could share with young mothers in need. At any given time, up to two single mothers and their children will live in the Glover home, and receive wraparound support from CHRIS 180 and guidance from Glover as they transition to a better life. “Through this home on the Westside, young mothers will have a steppingstone as they transition to permanent housing,” said Kathy Colbenson, LMFT, President
and Chief Executive Officer of CHRIS 180. “Our goal is to provide stability for children, youth, families and legacy residents on the Westside and strengthen the community. We see, in this project, a model of micro-living and community that can be replicated to help address the problem of homelessness. This includes supporting neighborhood leaders like Ms. Glover who can help us expand our care throughout the community.”
Deborah Glover stands with a rendering of her future home.
The groundbreaking was held at 981 Ashby Terrace where construction is underway and expected to be completed by the end of the year. Funding for the Glover project was provided by Atlanta Women’s Health Group, Amerigroup Community Care, Georgia Power and Westside Future Fund. Generous donations were also given by friends and family of Cindy Simpson in honor of her late wife, Lisa Galm.
Your Next Home Could Be In…Westview By Collin Kelley Where is it? Eight minutes west of Downtown by hopping on I-20 or put on your walking shoes or jump on your bike and take the Atlanta BeltLine’s Westside Trail. Didn’t there used to be a streetcar line? Yes, a streetcar used to run through the neighborhood from Downtown to the main gate of historic Westview Cemetery. With transit planned for the BeltLine, a
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streetcar or light rail line may connect the neighborhood once again. Speaking of the cemetery, is anyone famous buried there? The 600-acre resting place was created in 1884 to help alleviate overcrowded Oakland Cemetery. Westview’s roster permanent residents include Coca-Cola founder Asa G. Candler, the soft drink company’s president Robert Woodruff, Atlanta Symphony Conductor Robert Shaw, Atlanta Falcons owner Rankin Smith, Civil
Rights icons Rev. Joseph, Evelyn Lowery, Vivian Jones and Donald Hollowell, and beloved local restaurateur and LGBTQ activist Ria Pell, to name a few. The recently formed Friends of Westview is working to restore some of the historic structures. How much are homes? Homes from the high $200,000s to more than $500,000 for an existing home and available lots starting at $99,000. The historic neighborhood is filled with Arts & Crafts
bungalows, Foursquares, Tudors, and ranches. Where to dine? A little bird told us that Pinky Cole’s original Slutty Vegan is reopening soon in Westview’s commercial district along Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard. Locals also love Firewall Food Stop’s menu of wood fired pizzas, hummus, and artisanal sandwiches, while My Potato Factory serves up stuffed baked potatoes, fajitas and more. Dee’s Café serves up soulful breakfast and late lunch.
At l a n t a I n t o w n Pa p e r. c o m
