G.L.A.S. Elevate: Empowering Communities

G.L.A.S. Angels, Inc. addresses the pressing need for affordable housing and financial stability in underserved communities, particularly in Paulding County, Georgia, where no housing authority exists. With over 14% of residents living below the poverty line, many face housing insecurity and limited financial resources. Our current home is fully occupied, so we work diligently to connect families with temporary housing options while actively pursuing funding and partnerships to develop permanent solutions, such as container homes. By providing financial literacy programs and wellness resources alongside housing support, we aim to empower thousands of individuals in our community to achieve stability and independence.

Our solution provides a holistic approach to empowering underserved individuals and families by addressing housing, employment, education, financial literacy, and community engagement.

We offer affordable housing with all utilities included—electricity, water, and internet—to reduce financial stress and support stability. For those in immediate need, we partner with trusted providers to secure temporary housing. Residents receive financial literacy training, covering budgeting, credit repair, and savings, delivered both in-person and online. Our partnerships with a staffing agency and trade schools ensure job readiness through resume building, interview coaching, and referrals to advanced skills programs.

For individuals not yet job-ready, we connect them with GED programs, literacy resources, and set up appointments to address foundational skills. Residents with physical disabilities are referred to organizations for SSDI support, accessibility services, and wellness programs.

We collaborate with clothing organizations to provide professional attire for work or interviews and partner with transportation companies to ensure residents can attend critical appointments. By addressing systemic barriers with tailored support, our solution not only meets immediate needs but creates pathways to independence, economic mobility, and stronger community connections. This scalable model empowers individuals to rebuild their lives and fosters lasting resilience in underserved communities.

Our solution serves underserved individuals and families in Fulton, Paulding, and Cobb Counties, Georgia, focusing on those facing housing instability, financial hardship, and barriers to employment. This includes low-income families, single parents, individuals with disabilities, and those with limited education or job readiness. In Paulding County, where no housing authority exists, these populations are particularly vulnerable, with limited access to affordable housing, financial literacy resources, and workforce support.

We address their needs by providing affordable housing with all utilities included, easing financial burdens while creating a stable foundation. For those in crisis, we partner with housing providers to secure immediate accommodations. Our financial literacy workshops equip participants with skills to budget, repair credit, and save for the future, while partnerships with staffing agencies and trade schools provide employment opportunities and job readiness training.

For individuals with disabilities, we connect them to SSDI resources, accessibility services, and tailored wellness programs. Residents also benefit from partnerships for clothing and transportation, ensuring access to job interviews, medical appointments, and daily essentials. By addressing these interconnected challenges holistically, our solution empowers individuals to achieve stability, independence, and long-term economic mobility, transforming lives and strengthening communities.

Our team, led by LaShawn Baker, is deeply connected to the communities we serve, ensuring our solution reflects the real voices and needs of those we aim to empower. As a member of the Leadership Committee of the Paulding County Chamber of Commerce, LaShawn collaborates closely with local leaders, including Commissioner Tim Estes, to advocate for meaningful change that supports the less fortunate and unhoused. In Paulding County, where there is no housing authority, LaShawn’s role allows her to stay grounded in the struggles families face and work toward practical, community-driven solutions.

Our team is made up of individuals who have experienced similar challenges. We’ve lived through financial instability and housing insecurity, which makes this work personal for us. Over the past year, we’ve engaged with more than 200 individuals and families through workshops, one-on-one conversations, and surveys. From these interactions, we’ve learned about the gaps people face daily—like access to affordable housing, transportation, and professional attire. These stories inspired solutions like our transportation partnership to help residents attend interviews and appointments, and our collaboration with clothing organizations to provide work-appropriate attire.

At G.L.A.S. Angels, we don’t see ourselves as offering a handout but as being a helping hand to bridge the gap. Whether it’s providing utilities-included housing to ease financial stress, offering job readiness training, or connecting individuals with trade schools and literacy resources, we walk alongside our neighbors to help them build a path to independence. Our deep connection to the community and our belief in empowering, not enabling, make us uniquely positioned to deliver impactful, lasting solutions that create real change.

We selected the Pilot stage because G.L.A.S. Angels, Inc. has already implemented our solution in Fulton, Paulding, and Cobb Counties, Georgia, serving over 200 individuals and families. Our programs include providing affordable housing options with all utilities included, financial literacy workshops covering budgeting, credit repair, and savings, and job readiness training in partnership with a staffing agency. These services are operational and have shown measurable success in improving stability and economic mobility for our participants.

We’ve also established partnerships with organizations to provide professional clothing, transportation to job interviews and medical appointments, and referrals for GED programs and disability services like SSDI. These collaborations have allowed us to address the multifaceted challenges faced by underserved individuals.

Through community feedback, we’ve refined our approach, ensuring our services are accessible and impactful. For example, residents highlighted the importance of professional attire and reliable transportation, which led us to prioritize partnerships in these areas.

Our solution is proving effective, but we are still iterating to refine and scale it. By learning directly from those we serve, we ensure our programs remain relevant and impactful, bridging the gap for individuals on their journey to stability and independence.

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Our solution is innovative because it integrates multiple services—affordable housing, workforce development, financial literacy, and tailored support—into a holistic model that addresses the root causes of instability, not just the symptoms. Unlike traditional approaches that focus solely on one aspect of support, such as housing or job placement, we provide a seamless ecosystem of services that work together to empower individuals and families.

One key distinction is our focus on utilities-included affordable housing, which reduces financial stress for residents and allows them to focus on long-term goals. Additionally, we partner with staffing agencies and trade schools to connect residents to meaningful employment and advanced skills training. Our job readiness classes include etiquette training and interview preparation, ensuring participants are equipped to succeed in the workforce.

Our partnerships extend beyond housing and employment. We collaborate with transportation companies to ensure residents can attend critical appointments and job interviews and with clothing organizations to provide professional attire, eliminating common barriers to economic mobility. For individuals with literacy challenges or disabilities, we offer referrals to GED programs, SSDI assistance, and other specialized resources, ensuring no one is left behind.

This integrated approach not only improves individual outcomes but also serves as a replicable model for tackling systemic poverty. By addressing interconnected challenges in a single framework, we reduce fragmentation in service delivery and inspire others to adopt holistic approaches. Our solution has the potential to change the landscape by demonstrating that sustainable independence requires addressing housing, employment, and education as interdependent needs. This model can catalyze broader change, encouraging organizations and policymakers to prioritize comprehensive, person-centered support systems for underserved communities.

1. Helping Families Find Stability:

   • Goal: Provide safe, affordable housing with utilities included to 500 individuals and families over the next three years.
   • How We Measure It: We keep track of how many people move into our housing, how long they stay, and how many transition into permanent homes.

2. Opening Doors to New Opportunities:

   • Goal: Help 75% of our residents secure jobs or enroll in trade schools within six months of joining our program.
   • How We Measure It: We follow up with residents to see who’s landed jobs, started training programs, and are staying on track in their careers.

3. Building Confidence with Financial Skills:

   • Goal: Equip 80% of participants with practical skills like budgeting and saving to take control of their finances.
   • How We Measure It: Before and after our workshops, we check in with participants to see how much they’ve learned and how they’re applying it.

4. Supporting Education and Growth:

   • Goal: Connect at least 50 people each year to GED programs, literacy resources, or further education opportunities.
   • How We Measure It: We track every referral, follow up on enrollment, and celebrate program completions with participants.

5. Empowering Those with Disabilities:

   • Goal: Make sure every physically disabled resident gets connected to the resources they need, like SSDI or wellness programs.
   • How We Measure It: We document every referral and work closely with residents to ensure they’re receiving the help they deserve.

We don’t just track numbers—we talk to the people we serve. We gather their stories, listen to their feedback, and let their journeys inspire how we grow and improve. Every person we help is a step closer to building stronger, more resilient communities.

Our solution team consists of 3 full-time staff members, including leadership and program coordinators, who manage daily operations and oversee program delivery. We have 2 part-time staff members focused on community engagement, administrative support, and participant follow-ups. Additionally, we work with 4 contractors and partners, including a staffing agency, a transportation provider, and educational consultants, to deliver specialized services such as job readiness training, transportation support, and trade school referrals. This collaborative team structure ensures we can effectively address the diverse needs of our participants while maintaining flexibility and scalability as we grow.

We began in 2015, providing food, clothing, and toiletries to underserved individuals and families. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we recognized the urgent need for affordable housing and expanded our focus to address housing insecurity and related challenges. Over the past three years, we’ve transitioned into offering comprehensive services, including affordable housing, financial literacy workshops, workforce development, and tailored support programs. This evolution reflects our commitment to adapting to our community’s needs, creating impactful solutions that empower individuals and families to achieve stability and independence.

We prioritize building a team that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. Our hiring practices focus on inclusivity by actively seeking team members from diverse backgrounds, including those with lived experiences of housing instability or financial hardship. We minimize barriers to opportunity by offering flexible work schedules, competitive wages, and ongoing professional development to ensure all staff members can thrive.

We foster a welcoming environment through open communication, regular team-building activities, and a culture of respect and collaboration. Feedback is encouraged and valued, ensuring that every team member feels heard and empowered to contribute meaningfully to our mission.

Our solution operates on a social impact business model designed to provide direct value to underserved individuals and families by addressing their housing, employment, and financial literacy needs.

Value Proposition

We create pathways to stability by offering affordable housing with utilities included, job readiness training, financial education, and tailored support services. These services are delivered in partnership with local organizations to ensure accessibility and long-term impact.

Key Beneficiaries

Our primary beneficiaries include low-income families, individuals experiencing housing insecurity, and people with disabilities in Fulton, Paulding, and Cobb Counties, Georgia. These individuals often lack access to stable housing, job opportunities, and basic resources, making our comprehensive support system essential.

Products and Services

1. Affordable Housing: We partner with housing providers to offer utilities-included housing that reduces financial strain and provides immediate stability.
2. Workforce Development: We connect residents with staffing agencies and trade schools, offering job readiness classes, etiquette training, and resume support.
3. Financial Literacy Programs: Workshops teach budgeting, savings, and credit repair, delivered in-person and via online platforms for accessibility.
4. Support Services: We provide transportation to interviews and medical appointments, access to professional clothing, referrals for GED programs, and disability support like SSDI applications.

Revenue Streams

1. Grants and Foundations: Primary funding source for housing programs and operational costs.
2. Donor Contributions: Corporate and individual donors support specific initiatives like transportation and workshops.
3. Program Fees: Sliding-scale fees for advanced financial literacy workshops and job training services.

Delivery Channels

We serve our beneficiaries through on-site services at our housing locations, partnerships with community organizations, and digital tools like case management software and virtual workshops.

By integrating these services into a cohesive model, G.L.A.S. Angels, Inc. delivers meaningful impact while building financial sustainability to scale operations and reach more individuals.

Our plan for financial sustainability is based on a combination of diversified revenue streams, strategic partnerships, and scalable services to ensure long-term impact and growth.

Revenue Streams

1. Grants and Donations:

   • We actively pursue grants from foundations and government programs, including securing $13,500 from the Spark Good Fund Borealis and other local grants. Sustained donor contributions from individuals and corporate sponsors also support operational costs and program expansion.

2. Fee-Based Services:

   • We plan to implement a sliding-scale fee structure for advanced financial literacy workshops and job readiness programs, generating revenue while remaining accessible to underserved populations.

3. Partnerships and In-Kind Support:

   • Collaborations with organizations for housing, transportation, and professional clothing reduce costs while increasing our capacity to serve.

4. Scalable Services:

   • By integrating technology like online financial literacy tools and case management systems, we can expand services without significantly increasing overhead.

Evidence of Success

• We’ve successfully leveraged our resources to secure housing for over 200 individuals and families while maintaining operational efficiency.
• Our financial literacy and job readiness programs have seen consistent participation, with 75% of attendees reporting improved financial habits or securing employment.
• Strategic partnerships with staffing agencies, transportation providers, and GED programs have helped us reduce costs and improve service delivery.

Future Goals

Our financial sustainability plan focuses on increasing unrestricted funding through donor cultivation, applying for multi-year grants, and scaling fee-based services. By aligning our revenue streams with our mission and operating model, we ensure that our long-term expenses are covered, enabling us to continue making a meaningful impact in the lives of underserved communities.

We are applying to the Truist Foundation Inspire Awards because we believe their support can help us overcome critical barriers to scaling our solution and expanding our impact in underserved communities. Our primary challenges include limited funding for infrastructure, access to technology for efficient program delivery, and the need to strengthen partnerships for broader community engagement.

Working with the Truist Foundation and MIT Solve would provide access to invaluable resources, such as funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities with other leaders in social impact. Specifically, the grant funding could help us accelerate plans for affordable housing developments, including container homes, and enhance our technological infrastructure, such as upgrading our case management system and virtual financial literacy tools. This would allow us to serve more individuals efficiently while maintaining the quality of our programs.

The expertise and mentorship from Truist Foundation and MIT Solve would also help us refine our business model, develop scalable revenue strategies, and build long-term sustainability. By connecting us with potential collaborators and funders, this partnership would enable us to expand our reach and strengthen partnerships with local organizations to address systemic barriers more effectively.

This opportunity would provide the critical resources, knowledge, and visibility needed to advance our mission of empowering underserved individuals and families through affordable housing, workforce development, and financial literacy programs, ultimately transforming the lives of those we serve.