The IMPACT! Group

Street Address:
1255 Lakes Parkway
Suite 110
Lawrenceville, GA 30043


Phone: 678-808-4477
Fax: 678-808-4478
Website: www.theimpactgroup.org

Tom Merkel, President

Contact Name: Sandy Burns
Phone: 678-808-4477
Fax:
Email: sandy.burns@theimpactgroup.org


Staff Size: Full Time: 15    Part Time: 1

Background
The Gwinnett Housing Resource Partnership, Inc., d/b/a The IMPACT! Group, was incorporated in 1992 to create and preserve affordable housing in Gwinnett County, Georgia. In 2006, IMPACT! expanded our service area to include rural Northeast Georgia through the hiring of a rural Home Education Manager. The IMPACT! Group provides a continuum of housing opportunities and services through three complimenting divisions: - IMPACT! Transitional Housing provides transitional housing to homeless families with children. This program coordinates with other service providers to provide clients with the skills, knowledge, and time needed to address the cause behind their becoming homeless and regain independence. - IMPACT! Real Estate develops affordable housing in our community. Since the 1990’s IMPACT! Real Estate has helped refurbish over 196 units in the Bradford Gwinnett Apartments as well as 98 units in an adjoining duplex community called Castor Village. These homes provide clean, safe, and affordable homes to low and moderate-income families. - IMPACT! HomeOwnership Center provides comprehensive housing and financial education and counseling. The center’s Home Investment Academy provides group classes in both English and Spanish on subjects such as home buying, home maintenance, and foreclosure prevention.

Mission
The IMPACT! Group’s mission is to transform lives and strengthen communities by providing quality housing solutions.

Lines of Business
  • Asset and Property Management

  • Home Ownership Promotion Services

  • Lending and Loan Portfolio Management

  • Real Estate Development


    • National NeighborWorks ® Programs
  • NeighborWorks Campaign for Home Ownership
  • NeighborWorks Community Building and Organizing
  • NeighborWorks Multifamily Initiative

    • Accomplishments in FY 2008
  • Provided 213 families with pre- and post- purchase housing counseling.
  • Rehabilitated or repaired 0 rental or owner occupied units (1-4 units).
  • Assisted 14 families in purchasing a home through homeownership counseling, downpayment, closing cost or financing assistance.
  • Owned or managed 444 rental units.
  • Invested $ in the community through Gwinnett Housing Resource Partnership, Inc.'s revolving loan fund, which leveraged $3,904,762 from conventional lenders and other sources.
  • Total direct investment in the community is $3,904,762.

    • Additional Accomplishments
    Date Additional Accomplishment
    4/15/2009 During its 16 years of operations, the IMPACT! Group has amassed an impressive history of accomplishments. Since our opening, we have helped over 3,000 people become new homeowners and have helped prevent over 2,100 foreclosures. Moreover, our Transitional Housing Program has helped move 24 homeless families into outright homeownership. In 2008, the agency provided direct services to over 4,500 households. Most recently, the IMPACT! HomeOwnership Center has gained local media attention for its innovative partnership with the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia and the Brand Bank to pioneer a local down payment assistance program, thereby helping to create a new generation of responsible homeowners.

    Community Services
  • Community Building

  •  Business/Merchant Relationship

  •  Community Outreach and Organizing

  •  Landscape and Neighborhood Beautification

  •  Tenant Organizing

  • Family Health Programs

  •  Afterschool/Tutoring Programs

  •  Christmas-Adopt a Family Program

  • Financial Planning and Assistance

  •  Down-payment Assistance

  •  Financial Education

  •  Foreclosure Prevention Counseling

  •  Foreclosure Prevention Training

  • Green Building and Home Improvement

  •  Handyman Referrals

  •  Home Maintenance Training

  •  Home Safety and Security

  • Housing Programs and Home Ownership Counseling

  •  Home Ownership Center

  •  Home Ownership Counseling

  •  Housing for Elderly

  •  Housing for Homeless

  •  Rental Housing

  •  Section 8 Housing

  •  Transitional Housing for Homeless Families


    • Board of Directors
    NameBoard Role/TitleSectorCompany/OrganizationJob Title
    Florence AcevedoBoard SecretaryOther  
    Stacey BrittBoard MemberOther  
    Marc BrownBoard MemberBusinessHome Depot 
    Cliff DavisBoard TreasurerBusinessDavis & Langford Certified Public Accountant 
    Ellen GersteinBoard MemberNon-Profit InstitutionGwinnett Coalition for Health & Human Services 
    Marcus HintonBoard MemberLocal GovernmentCity Council of Grayson 
    Rev. Thomas JacksonBoard MemberOtherNew Hope Full Gospel Baptist Church 
    Clayt MasonBoard MemberBusinessConnectivity Wireless Solutions 
    Derold McIverBoard MemberFinancial InstitutionBB&T 
    Greg ShumateBoard Vice ChairFinancial InstitutionBrand Mortgage 
    Nathaniel SmithBoard MemberBusinessEmory University 
    Shawn TurpinBoard ChairFinancial InstitutionKeyWorth Bank 

    About the NeighborWorks ® Network
    The NeighborWorks® network is a nationwide network of more than 240 community development organizations working in nearly 4358 urban, suburban and rural communities across America. These organizations engage in revitalization strategies that strengthen communities and transform lives. In the last five years alone, NeighborWorks® organizations have generated more than $8.5 billion in reinvestment and helped more than 500,000 families of modest means purchase or improve their homes or secure safe, decent rental or mutual housing.

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