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How did I get involved with IMPACT?
I heard about IMPACT through my involvement in Freshman Programs with the Student Government Association here at UGA. One day a representative from IMPACT came to advertise the trips and the programs offered and I was drawn in because of how the service sites are positively impacting communities, and how the different trips focus on important topics that affect the people around us every single day. I was not completely sure about my decision to go on an IMPACT trip at first; however, I am so incredibly grateful that I took ahold of that opportunity, and it left me wanting to dive deeper into IMPACT to have more and more opportunities to serve others.

Why am I interested in my trip focus?
Shelter and resource access are pivotal when it comes to simply surviving. If a person does not have a place to lay his or her head at night, or rarely knows when he or she will get another meal, then that person is unable to live a happy life. It breaks my heart to know that there are people within the United States, within Georgia, that do not have access to these basic human necessities. This issue brings in many social issues as well pertaining to who these people are that do not have these resources, and it sets into a vicious cycle. I am looking forwards to knowing and understanding more about this broad topic and how people are influenced by it every single day through research and service.

Fun fact?
My favorite food is cinnamon rolls and I can easily eat a whole pack of them:)
Claire Weatherly
2nd Year | International Affair and Social Work Major
impact.savannahga.wb@gmail.com
404-567-9059
Truc Vu 
3rd Year | Mechanical Engineering Major
impact.savannahga.wb@gmail.com
678-793-3234
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​How did I get involved with Impact?
I first heard about Impact in High School when my older sister and her friend came back from an Impact trip! Ever since then, I have been captivated by this organization. I have been on two Impact trips, Affordable Housing and Native America Cultural Awareness & Advocacy, that have been some of my most formative experiences in college so far. I met amazing community partners and UGA students who altered my perspective on various issues, helped me grow as a person, and encouraged me to grow towards becoming an active citizen to fight for social justice.
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Why am I interested in my trip focus?
The home is such a central component to a person’s well being. Lack of access a shelter and other dire resources affect the physical and mental health of persons, families, and children. There are so many interdisciplinary causes at the root of this issue and just as many long-term, cyclical consequences. The more I learn, the more passionate I become about finding feasible solutions to provide accessible shelter and resources, an issue that currently plagues this country.

Fun fact?
Most nights I fall asleep scrolling through Yelp & TripAdvisor looking at food  & travel pics.  

Shelter and Resource Access...What does this mean?

Shelter and resource access is an incredibly broad term that encompasses the needs of many. From people experiencing homelessness to mothers in need of resources to families with little access to food, different people are experiencing different needs every day. Shelter needs include affordable housing, eviction victims, those experiencing homelessness, and anyone seeking a roof over their heads. Resources can include food, clothing, education, LGBT resources, and many more. ​
                         Key Words            
  • Access- freedom or ability to obtain or make use of something
  • Affordable Housing- Housing that is made accessible to “Families who pay more than 30 percent of their income for housing are considered cost burdened and may have difficulty affording necessities such as food, clothing, transportation and medical care.” (Department of Housing and Urban Development)
  • Food insecurity- the inability to access a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food
  • Homelessness- any individual that lacks a permanent home and/or is living under public or private accommodation
  • Public housing- housing provided by government funding for individuals with low income
  • Welfare (TANF,SNAP) - Welfare is a government program which provides financial aid to individuals or groups who need assistance
  • TANF - the monthly cash assistance program for low-income families with children under age 18, and children age 18 and attending school full-time.
  • SNAP - (previously known as the Food Stamp Program) provides vouchers to low-income households to buy nutritious and low-cost foods
  • Low income - Low-income is considered 200 percent of the federal poverty level ($50,200 for a family of four in 2018).
  • Poverty - 100 percent of the poverty level ($25,100 for a family of four in 2018).
  • Eviction - the act of expelling someone from real property either by legal action or actions which prevent the tenant from continuing in possession
  • Gentrification - the arrival of wealthier people in an existing urban district, a related increase in rents and property values, and changes in the district's character and culture
  • Resource- goods or services that can be used to benefit an individual
                             Facts
  • According to the 2017 U.S. Income and Poverty Report, the national poverty rate was at 12.3%. (US Census).
  • The Georgia poverty rate is at approximately 15.6% (US Census)
  • According to the 2014 US Census Bureau, nearly 40% of the 111,000 residents in Athens-Clarke County lived below the poverty line, making the county one of the poorest in the nation
  • Comparatively, Savannah’s poverty rate is 25.4%, Georgia’s poverty rate is 15.6%, and the U.S.’s poverty rate is 12.3% (Federal reserve bank of St. Louis)
  • Within 14 years, the Athens-Clarke County poverty rate rose from 17.5% in 2000 to 37.8% in 2014, due to several factors, namely the collapse of the housing market in 2007 (US Census Bureau)
  • Almost 20% of lower income neighborhoods and family-styled homes have experienced gentrification since 2000. Atlanta, GA, has a gentrification rate of 46.2% making it one of the highest in the country. This means that more people were displaced in these areas, and more development marginalizing lower income individuals.(Governing States and Localities)
  • As of 2012(this number could change due to different administration; however, this was the most recent study done by the US Census), 21.3% of US citizens were supported by various welfare programs; the highest used programs being Medicaid and SNAP. (US Census)
  • According to the USDA, in 2017 , 11.8% of US households were food insecure. This means that approximately 40 million Americans, including approximately 8 million children , do not have stable access to nutritious, available food (USDA).
  • In 2016 alone, there were 2.3 million evictions in the US. “Eviction comes with a mark that goes on your record, and that can bar you from moving into a good house in a safe neighborhood, but could also prevent you from moving into public housing”(NPR).
Serving Athens
  • Athens Area Homeless Shelter- AAHS is a transitional housing program for mothers with dependent children. Volunteers from the Athens community are able to provide an evening meal for AAHS families 365 days per year.
  • ​​Hope Haven- This non-profit organization provides an environment and the resources where adults in the Athens-Clarke community can be independent and self-sufficient. This organization strives to prepare, empower, and support individuals with developmental disabilities and their families to participate fully in the community.
  • Food Bank of NEGA- The food bank recovers and recycles foods and distributes it to human service agencies. As volunteers, we would assist with organizing the food donations and aiding with the daily operations of the food bank.

​Articles:
  • http://theweek.com/articles/759683/americas-homelessness-crisis
  • http://scholasticadministrator.typepad.com/thisweekineducation/2016/10/evicted-author-talks-about-housings-impact-on-poor-kids-their-parents.html#.W85VkWhKg2x
  • https://www.nationalgeographic.com/foodfeatures/hunger/
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Videos:
  • https://www.ted.com/talks/esther_sullivan_america_s_most_invisible_communities_mobile_home_parks
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytd06hadrsM
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdR0NqrlRZo
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNOmRvh82Fc
Sources
https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/comm_planning/affordablehousing/
https://dfcs.georgia.gov/temporary-assistance-needy-families
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/w/welfare.asp
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/nccp-finds-44-percent-u-s-children-live-low-income-families
https://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/eviction
http://www.pbs.org/pov/flagwars/what-is-gentrification/
https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2018/demo/p60-263.html
http://theweek.com/articles/759683/americas-homelessness-crisis
https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines
http://www.onlineathens.com/article/20160103/NEWS/301039974
https://datausa.io/profile/geo/savannah-ga/
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CBR13059GAA647NCEN
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/BRGA13M647NCEN
http://www.governing.com/gov-data/census/gentrification-in-cities-governing-report.html
https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2015/cb15-97.html
https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/key-statistics-graphics.aspx
https://www.npr.org/2018/04/12/601783346/first-ever-evictions-database-shows-were-in-the-middle-of-a-housing-crisis