All external construction work on Phase I of the Phoenix Pass project is expected to be completed by the end of January, with interior work to take another month or two to complete. The Phoenix Pass Board of Directors hopes to open its doors in May to begin serving women with children who are experiencing displacement or temporary homelessness.
"We are excited to be reaching this milestone and are so very appreciative of everyone who helped to make this possible," said Ron Simpson, chairman of the Phoenix Pass board. "We are asking the community to continue to support this effort by helping to fund the cost of operations as we move families in need toward a brighter future."
Phoenix Pass, located on the Light House Village campus at 541 Sigman Road, is a partnership between First Baptist Church of Conyers and Rockdale Emergency Relief, a non-profit organization supported by United Way in Rockdale. The Phoenix Pass project will eventually include two apartment buildings with a total of 15 units and a security office, along with a community center. Phase I consists of one apartment building and the community center, which will have laundry facilities, space for residents to socialize and areas for children to study and play.
The annual operating cost of the complex is approximately $114,000. Phoenix Pass is asking individuals, churches, civic organizations and businesses to consider supporting this project by either making a one-time donation toward operating expenses or by sponsoring an individual apartment unit by contributing $7,500 annually (the cost to operate the unit, plus a share of operating the community center) or $625 per month.
"That amounts to around $22 per day that you can invest in a homeless women and her family to help them to become self-sufficient again," said Simpson.
Phoenix Pass, Inc. seeks to serve the needs of women and families experiencing temporary homelessness by giving them the opportunity to reestablish self-sufficiency in a residential setting. The focus of the Phoenix Pass program is to empower clients with supportive services and resources that will enable them to recover and rebuild productive, stable lifestyles. Those who successfully complete the program will be expected to remain in the community and contribute back using the education, life skills and job skills they acquired at Phoenix Pass.
In addition to financial support, Phoenix Pass is seeking support from those willing to "adopt an apartment" by supplying the resident family with bed and bath linens, kitchen and pantry items, school supplies, clothing and assistance during the holidays. Volunteer opportunities also will be available for mentoring mothers and tutoring children.
For more information on ways to support Phoenix Pass, call 770-760-1020. Financial contributions may be mailed to: Phoenix Pass Inc., Post Office Box 1155, Conyers, Georgia 30012. Donations also may be made through United Way in Rockdale and designated for Phoenix Pass. United Way in Rockdale can be reached at 678.623.2890.
