Today, we’d like to introduce you to Mary Grace King.
Hi Mary, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story begins with growing up in Marietta, GA, with both of my parents working for the Cobb Department of Family and Children Services. From a young age, I was very aware of the disparities in the Atlanta Community and that not all children grew up in a stable two-parent household like me. My most impactful memory was going to work with my parents during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. I saw kids my age who had lost their homes completely unexpectedly with nowhere to go in the lobby of Cobb County DFCS in Marietta, GA.
I knew how fortunate I was and that every family is one crisis away from being without a home. This led me to pursue my degree at the University of Georgia and graduating with my Master’s in Social Work in 2018. I started as a contractor at United Way of Greater Atlanta and really fell in love with working directly in the field, spending my time in the community, and working with individuals and families experiencing homelessness to find permanent housing. Through my connections at UWGA, I had the opportunity and support to start Frontline Housing in January 2020. It has been an incredible journey, and I am honored to serve the Atlanta community.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
Overall, the road has been fairly smooth. Frontline Housing has strong support from the community and funders, and with their guidance, we have been fortunate to avoid many obstacles. United Way of Greater Atlanta has provided mentorship and support through the challenges Frontline Housing has faced and we are thankful to have such a supportive partner in our corner.
The most challenging part of building Frontline Housing was the sudden change during the pandemic. Frontline Housing was incorporated in January 2020, so when the pandemic started, our focus quickly had to change to support the residents in Atlanta and assist with distributing funding for prevention throughout the city. Balancing COVID-19 restrictions while still working in the community was an ongoing process for me as a new leader. It was challenging at the moment, but it was what was needed in Atlanta at the time, and I’m grateful I could be a part of the solution.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Frontline Housing?
Frontline Housing is a nonprofit organization that serves all of Metro Atlanta. Frontline Housing places families living in motels, families that are coded as homeless in the school system, and families that are survivors of Domestic Violence into permanent housing. Once they are placed in housing, we enroll all families in a 6-month Savings Cash Transfer Program. Each month we provide funds directly to our families, and families save a portion to build their savings account.
At the end of the six months, families have secured stable housing, learned about financial well-being topics, and saved $1,000 in their emergency savings. In 2023, we placed over 400 families into permanent housing and 350 individuals and families graduated with over $1,000 in their emergency savings. To enroll in the program, families can complete the housing form at our website, frontlinehousing.org, and a team member will reach out.
We have become very experienced in Rapid Rehousing and delivering various savings programs and models. I am proud that our team has been able to make a large impact and ensure that families are stable in their housing.
Networking and finding a mentor can have a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
The best advice I can give for networking is to just genuinely want to get to know others and be curious. There is no magic formula to networking, but having a genuine interest in others and their careers is the best way to make relationships in your industry.
Contact Info:
- Website: frontlinehousing.org
- Instagram: @frontlinehousinginc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Frontlinehousing/
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/frontline-housing-inc/
Image Credits
Brian Yaneck
