The City of Lawrenceville and Impact46 celebrated the grand opening of the F.I.R.S.T. Housing Center, marking a major milestone in the city’s efforts to address homelessness through compassion, innovation, and collaboration.
Located at 179 Plainview Drive, the Center transforms a 70-year-old brick building into eight private, apartment-style units offering transitional housing for men experiencing homelessness in Lawrenceville and greater Gwinnett County. One of the units is fully ADA-accessible, ensuring the Center can serve residents with mobility needs. The building has been fully renovated with new plumbing, walls, windows, and air conditioning, preserving its historic character while giving it a new purpose. The Center is scheduled to open in early November 2025.
The F.I.R.S.T. Housing Center provides a place to live free of charge for men referred through the Lawrenceville Police Department and other community partners. Upon entry, each resident completes a psychosocial assessment with a licensed clinician and works with a case manager to develop an individualized plan for stability and long-term success. Residents may stay up to 89 days while accessing counseling, workforce connections, and other supportive services through the Lawrenceville Response Center (LRC), operated by Impact46.
The City of Lawrenceville owns the property and serves as landlord, while Impact46 operates the program and manages services through the LRC. The Center’s name, F.I.R.S.T., stands for For Intensive Response and Supportive Transitions—principles that guide its mission and daily work.
“The F.I.R.S.T. Housing Center reflects Lawrenceville’s commitment to addressing homelessness with both compassion and accountability,” said Mayor David Still. “It’s a place of transition—helping men move from crisis to stability with dignity and renewed opportunity.”
While there are shelters and homes for women, children, and families in the county, there have been none dedicated to single men, which is a gap the F.I.R.S.T. Housing Center now fills. The program’s non-congregate housing model, featuring private apartments supported by wraparound care, provides the stability needed for residents to rebuild their lives.
Jen Young, executive director of Impact46 says:. “Lawrenceville has chosen to set a higher standard for how we respond to homelessness.This project is proof that when a city leads with vision and compassion, partners from every sector rally to make change possible. Together, we’ve transformed a neglected property into a place that restores dignity and hope for men rebuilding their lives.”
The F.I.R.S.T. Housing Center is the result of a collaborative partnership between the City of Lawrenceville, Impact46, and a network of community, nonprofit, and faith-based partners. The initiative was supported by federal HOME-ARP grant funding administered through Gwinnett County and matched by local resources.
Key partners include ViewPoint Health, the Lawrenceville Co-Op, Georgia Center for Opportunity, Streetwise, and the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia, along with neighborhood and faith-based organizations and foundations whose generosity helped make the project possible.
Tidal Wave’s Charity Day nets Annandale $347,227
Tidal Wave Auto Spa’s 17th Annual Charity Day in September has raised a record-breaking $347,227 in support of longtime nonprofit partner Annandale Village.
Kayce Pearce, chief development and marketing officer at Annandale Village says: “We are deeply grateful for the generosity of Tidal Wave and their patrons. This incredible charitable investment strengthens our mission to provide care, support, and opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities and acquired brain injuries.”
Located in Suwanee, Annandale Village is a nonprofit residential community serving adults with developmental disabilities and acquired brain injuries. One of only three nonprofits in the United States providing a full continuum of care, Annandale offers lifelong residential services, two day programs, and respite care for area families across its 55-acre campus.
Tidal Wave’s Charity Day, held this year on September 19, gives 100 percent of its funds to nonprofits. Half of each location’s proceeds benefit a local nonprofit of their choosing, while the remaining half supports Annandale Village. There were 295 participating Tidal Wave locations across the United States this year, making it the company’s largest Charity Day to date.
Tidal Wave CEO and founder Scott Blackstock says: “We are grateful to everyone who came out to Tidal Wave to support our Charity Day event. We’re proud to make a difference for these incredible organizations during Charity Day and raise funds that help them to continue the important and impactful work they do within our communities.”
