Housing & Homeless Council began with action in Conference Committee on Church and Society presented a resolution to the Annual Conference asking that the Annual Conference appoint a Conference Homeless Task Force.

Housing & Homeless Council Began With Action in This Task Force was to “study and recommend action in order that the North Georgia Conference may be more effective in its ministry to the homeless and affect public policy involving the homeless in the state and nation.”

Housing & Homeless Council Began With Action in 1988 This resolution was passed by the Annual Conference.

1989 Report to Annual Conference Establish a permanent North Georgia United Methodist Homeless Council. Establish a North Georgia Conference Housing Trust Fund. Inform United Methodists of the extent, nature, and scope of the problem of homelessness in Georgia and enlist them to respond to this need.

1989 Report to Annual Conference Administer the program through Urban Action (later known as Action Ministries) with staff and operating resources needed to meet these additional responsibilities.

1989 Report to Annual Conference The 1989 Annual Conference approved the report of the Task Force on the Homeless and work began immediately to organize the Conference Homeless Council and to plan for the first conference- wide offering.

The Housing & Homeless Council Begins in 1990 The Homeless Task Force became the North Georgia United Methodist Housing & Homeless Council The first Homeless Offering was taken. A part-time staff person was hired.

Organizational structure was more clearly defined in Bylaws were adopted in May 1992.

2003 Changes in Status The Annual Conference voted to change the status of the Housing and Homeless Council to an administrative council of the Annual Conference. Bylaws were amended in November to reflect this change, which did away with the relationship with Action Ministries.

Total Offering Since 1990

Grants Since 1990

Offering & Grants Since 1990

Total Grants Given Since 1990, the Housing and Homeless Council has awarded grants totaling $4,233,038*. *Through Spring Cycle 2014

Locations of Grantees Since 1990

Housing Trust Fund 25 percent of all offerings was invested in a permanent endowment, managed for the Council by the North Georgia United Methodist Foundation until that fund reached $1 million.

Housing Trust Fund The purpose of this endowment is to provide a continuing source of funds to carry forward the primary mission of aid to homeless people.

Housing Trust Fund The market value of this fund as of 12/31/13 was $1,383,278.

Endowment Fund Market Value

Administrative Expenses The administrative costs of the Housing and Homeless Council are paid through earnings from the endowment North Georgia Conference budget fund-raising activities.

Administrative Expenses The endowment is used to pay administrative expenses by calculating 5% of the average for the market value as of December 31 st of the previous three years. This amount for 2014 is $65,511.

Administrative Expenses The Council is in the 2014 Conference budget for $12,000 and the 2015 budget for $15,000.

Administrative Expenses Breakdown of Administrative Expenses ADMINISTATIVE/ SUPPORT EXPENSES: Salaries, Benefits & Taxes$53,00070% PROGRAM: Administrative Expenses10,00013% PROGRAM: OFFERING PROMOTIONAL EXPENSES for Homeless Offering$13,00017% $76,000100%

Pin Money Proceeds from sale of house pins have supplemented the administrative expenses.

Member Responsibilities

Keep People Aware! Keep churches aware of the Homeless Offering. Make announcements at District meetings. Offer to supply a speaker. Remind them that video is available.

Homeless Offering Materials Distribution Distribute materials for the February Homeless Offering at a district ministers’ meeting or other district gathering—in January each year. Assure delivery of a packet to every church in the district.

Remind Churches About the Offering. Contact local churches to remind them of the offering and to offer to speak at the church. Remind churches that the video and other materials are available.

Help Churches Meet Needs in Their Communities. Talk with churches about housing and homeless needs in the community. Help them find what the needs are in their community. Present ways they can help in meeting the needs.

Let Them Know Where Their Money Goes Express appreciation to churches in your district that have given. Inform ministers of projects funded and keep Housing & Homeless Council ministry before the district throughout the year.

Recognize & Remind Recognize churches that have given to the offering. Remind those who have not given.

Please Be Here! Attend the four meetings a year of the Housing and Homeless Council. Please make attendance a top priority in your schedule.

Make Site Visits. Make site visits with applicants to determine the worth of the projects.

Decide on Grants. Decide on distribution of funds to applicants at May and November meetings.