City Councilmembers and Millard Fuller of the Fuller Center for Housing tour some of area’s most devastated neighborhoods

Members of the Atlanta City Council and the founder of the Fuller Center for Housing will tour some of the City’s most devastated neighborhoods Thursday afternoon to assess the needs of residents still recovering in wake of Friday’s tornado.

The group will also be joined by residents whose homes suffered severe damage during the storm. The tour is sponsored by City Councilmembers Ivory Lee Young Jr., Kwanza Hall, Natalyn Archibong, Lamar Willis, Ceasar Mitchell, Mary Norwood, and C.T. Martin. Councilmembers Young, Hall and Archibong represent areas directly hit by Friday’s F2 tornado.

Millard Fuller will be in Atlanta on Thursday, March 20th for a tour of impacted neighborhoods starting at 4:30 p.m. Mt. Gilead Missionary Baptist Church, at 561 Spencer St N.W.

*Note: MEDIA OUTLETS will be allowed to ride along with members of the City Council and Fuller Center officials as they assess the recovery efforts and ongoing needs from Vine City to the Old Forth Ward to Cabbagetown and East Atlanta.

Fuller Center for Housing of Greater Atlanta is offering repair assistance to low-income homeowners devastated by the tornados and strong storms that have swept across the area.

“Relief is greatly appreciated,” said Councilman Ivory Lee Young. “Full recovery has yet to be accomplished and from a government standpoint, we have a lot of work ahead of us.”

For more information about obtaining assistance from The Fuller Center visit www.fullercenter.org or call 404-867-3258 or the office of City Councilmember Mary Norwood at 404-330-6302.

“I am grateful for everyone at the Fuller Center who rolled up their sleeves and went to work immediately last weekend and who continues to bring resources to the table,” city wide Council representative Mary Norwood said. “We are so glad to have the founder, Millard Fuller, out in the communities to see first hand the devastation of neighborhoods surrounding the central business district. We are pleased with their commitment to bring resources to bear and their assurance and dedication to make our communities whole again.”

“This has been an overwhelming weekend for all of us,” Norwood said. “The devastating storms that ripped through our neighborhoods and the downtown area left many in need of shelter and home repairs.”

City wide Council representative Ceasar Mitchell agreed.

“My phone has been ringing from agencies and corporations from Hands On Atlanta to The Home Depot, all wanting to lend a helping hand and we welcome the assistance of everyone,” he said. “The biggest needs include the removal of fallen trees and repair work to the homes of those impacted by the storm.”

The Fuller Center officials say requests for assistance from uninsured homeowners are mounting.

The local organization was participating in the 30th Annual Spring Atlanta Home Show, when Friday’s storm struck, said Mark Galey, President of the Fuller Center for Housing of Greater Atlanta.

“My heart goes out to all the people who were negatively affected by the tornado. I am grateful to Mark Galey, Mary Norwood, and everyone involved with the Fuller Center for Housing for their enthusiastic and dedicated response,” said Millard Fuller. “It is wonderful that they have been out in the community helping people remove limbs and debris. I am looking forward to the press conference and seeing how the Fuller Center can continue to be helpful to people in the overall recovery process.”

The Fuller Center for Housing (TFCH) was founded in the spring of 2005 at Koinonia Farm in rural southwest Georgia by Fuller after 29 years with Habitat for Humanity.