Up Close with Gwinnett Housing Corporation

By Our Town Gwinnett Staff

Gwinnett Housing Corporation (GHC) is pleased to announce the opening of Gwinnett County’s first Homeowner Resource Center. To aid in its development, GHC partnered with Norcross’s Downtown Development Authority to facilitate the building acquisition at 128 Lawrenceville Street. The nonprofit also partnered with HomeAid Atlanta and Lennar to renovate the building.

“I am truly grateful for our partnership with HomeAid Atlanta,” said Vice President of Operations Tom Bowers for Lennar Atlanta. “It provided us the opportunity to connect with Gwinnett Housing Corporation and the Norcross DDA to work on this unique project. It’s nothing short of remarkable to know that this completed facility will allow Gwinnett residents to obtain the coveted dream of home ownership.”

GHC hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the site on June 5th. Local leaders in attendance included Gwinnett County Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson; Gwinnett County Commissioner Kirkland Carden; City of Lawrenceville Mayor David Still and Council Members Marlene Crawford Taylor, Victoria Jones, and Austin Thompson; City of Norcross Council Members Matt Myers and Josh Bare; and City of Norcross Downtown Development Authority Members Lauren Summers, Will Shipley, and Jim Eyre. Martha Revello of Senator Raphael Warnock’s office and Kyra Reed of Congresswoman Lucy McBath’s office were also present.

Boasting a terrific turnout of supporters from all across the county, the event opened with an address from GHC Chief Executive Officer Lejla Prljaca about the growing housing crisis and lack of affordable homes in Gwinnett. During her speech, Prljaca revealed the steps GHC is taking to address the need and highlighted partners that will collaboratively work to ensure that more low-to-moderate-income residents in Gwinnett have the opportunity to become homeowners. The Center and its partners will also provide resources to low-to-moderate-income homeowners in Gwinnett that support the preservation of ownership of their current homes.

“The Norcross City Council and Staff, Downtown Development Authority, and I are all honored that our city is the birthplace of this first-of-its-kind offering for families in need in Gwinnett,” said Mayor Craig Newton. “As a Place to Imagine, Norcross offers the ideal setting for aspiring homebuyers not only to imagine but realize their dreams of homeownership.”

Through the Gwinnett Homeowner Resource Center, the Gwinnett Housing Corporation will provide programming in cooperation with other partner organizations, which include Habitat Gwinnett, Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership, Inc., Money Management International, Catholic Charities, Community Sustainability Enterprise, the Gwinnett County Housing Department, and Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America. Programs will include housing counseling, referrals for down payment assistance, access to non-profit developers, lenders, owner-occupied rehabilitation, and home modification activities.

“We are very excited to offer this important resource to support

Continued on page 21

Meet Dream Chasers 21: Making a Difference in Lives

By Tana Poncsak

An old proverb states, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” This proverb seems to ring true for Lorri Brown, founder of Dream Chasers 21, located in Buford, Georgia.

Lorri grew up in Meridian, Mississippi, and was the daughter of some very giving parents. She recalls it was commonplace for people to knock on their door at any given hour. As a curious child and the youngest of nine, Lorri asked her mother why they had so many visitors at all hours of the day and night. Her father, self-employed and well-to-do, was also generous, and Lorri’s mother explained to her that the visitors were people in need. But Lorri still couldn’t understand “Why our door?”

Years later, she not only figured out why, but she finds herself doing the same thing – helping others. For Lorri, it started with helping the homeless; but over time it has grown to include anyone who has a need, including the many families in the area.

“After three years of helping the homeless, we started encountering people who said their children were hungry,” Lorri said, adding that a child cannot concentrate and excel in school if hungry. So they started helping families, too. She also said she wants to do more to help seniors living on a fixed income.

Several businesses have partnered with the nonprofit Dream Chasers 21, started by Lorri and her husband, Randy, as they work to help others. But the organization recently lost the building where they offered a food pantry.

Currently, they help others individually and on a larger scale through Grace Point Community Church, but they are looking for a building or space to provide a more permanent food pantry for those in need. They are also looking for trucks that will allow them to be more mobile and get to more people in need of their services.

According to Lorri, the nonprofit served 8,399 people in the last year. “With the economy the way it is – gas prices are high, groceries are high, and people cannot afford the higher rent,” Lorri said. “Because the rent amounts have increased, people are struggling, and I just feel that as a community it’s up to us to help. I’m going to do my part even if I have to do it alone. People are in serious need.”

Lorri gets weary at times, but then a child comes up and hugs her after getting a fruit cup, and she keeps on going knowing her motivation and determination comes from a higher power. “I tell everybody this is not me,” she says. “This is God.”

And her generosity has been recognized by her neighbors. Last year Lorri was nominated for the| Nextdoor 100 for her actions in helping an injured homeless man.

In the YouTube video, featuring Lorri and her nomination for the award, she said it makes her feel awesome to be nominated.

Continued on page 22