Lenz recently provided valuable public relations services for Hagar’s House, garnering major media coverage for the Decatur emergency shelter for homeless families.
The shelter, the only such facility in DeKalb County and one of many programs operated by Decatur Cooperative Ministry (DCM), sustained extensive damage from September’s Hurricane Helene. After three months had passed with no government funding received for repairs necessary to reopen, DCM turned to Lenz for help in calling for public donations.
In response, Lenz Media Relations Manager Jon Waterhouse drafted a press release and distributed it to his Atlanta-area media contacts. Waterhouse promptly received interest from several local TV and radio outlets and connected them with DCM Executive Director Marlene White for interviews about the challenges Hagar’s House was confronting.
Waterhouse’s efforts quickly garnered major media coverage from several outlets, including WSB-TV, 11 Alive TV, Fox 5 TV, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and Decaturish, helping to spread the word about the shelter’s financial situation.
Founded in 1969, Decatur Cooperative Ministry’s mission is to help families facing homelessness settle into safe, stable homes and build healthy lives filled with peace, hope, and opportunity.
Hagar’s House offers emergency night shelter and assessment to homeless families with children. The 5-room, 30-bed shelter provides safe, comfortable accommodations for up to 90 days. While enrolled, families have access to daily showers, a tech center, laundry facilities, and two meals a day.