Development director seeks funds for housing

Published 1:00 am Tuesday, April 4, 2006

There are an estimated 750 children in Whitfield County or Dalton Public schools who are homeless or unstably housed, according to Gaile Jennings, executive director of the Dalton-Whitfield Community Development Corp. And given the current rate of growth, that number could reach 800 by May, Jennings added.

Jennings briefed the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners Monday night on the state of housing in the county.

“Between 10 and 15 percent of Whitfield County residents are homeless or at risk,” she said.

Those at-risk persons are living in shelters or temporary housing or are doubled up with others.

Jennings asked the board for a letter of support for the Community Development Corp. to receive a state and federal grant to provide transitional housing for those in need in Whitfield County.

The county would pledge to provide $6,500 in its 2007 budget in order to receive the $65,000 grant that would also fund a case worker to handle requests for transitional housing. Transitional housing is temporary housing for those in need that can last up to a year.

Jennings said those seeking help with housing may call (706) 876-1630 for assistance.

The board delayed discussion of the creation of a new business license in Whitfield County until next Monday’s work session to give the board more time to gather facts on how business licenses are structured in other Georgia counties.