The historic Odd Fellows Building will soon be home to Georgia Works, a nonprofit that helps men who are chronically homeless overcome barriers and achieve self-sufficiency. The Invest Atlanta Board approved a $1.25 million grant from the Eastside Tax Allocation District (TAD) Ascension Fund to finance the building’s renovation.

Georgia Works purchased the tower portion of the Odd Fellows Building, located on Auburn Avenue in the Old Fourth Ward, in early 2023 with a grant from the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget. Once renovated, the facility will house all Georgia Works operations under one roof—providing expanded capacity for program participants, low-cost housing for program graduates and office space for the organization.

Also included as part of the project is the renovation of four retail spaces on the ground floor. These spaces will be leased to local businesses at below-market rates to foster entrepreneurial opportunities and reactivate a historically disinvested part of the Sweet Auburn corridor.

Georgia Works is currently based at the Gateway Center where program participants live in converted jail facilities. In the refurbished Odd Fellows Building, Georgia Works will increase the number of men it serves—housing up to 164 men at any one time, including 40 spaces for men participating in the Georgia Works program, as well as transitional housing for up to 124 program graduates in 60, two- and three-bed shared units.

Georgia Works provides participants with room and board for up to one year for a nominal fee while they participate in transitional work (earning $7.40 per hour for 30+ hours per week). The program also includes case management, workforce training, wellness classes, GED classes, support in obtaining a driver’s license, help setting up a bank account and life skill preparation courses.

Following completion of the Georgia Works program, graduates receive job placement assistance and have access to low-cost transitional housing through Georgia Works’ Housing Division, which is a crucial step toward permanent housing and stable employment.