Cobb Reporter

The Center for Family Resources (CFR) recently released its 2023 Annual Report, outlining the organization's continued commitment to homeless families and those at risk of homelessness in Cobb County. Serving more than 1,400 families through its homeless prevention and housing programs, food pantry, and Employee Financial Assistance Program, CFR maintains its 64-year history of providing essential services to Cobb County residents.

Highlights of the report include an average of 1,160 phone calls received each month from individuals seeking services. In 2023, 19 percent of these calls were from people seeking shelter and 51 percent were from families seeking rental assistance.

“For the people reaching out to us, housing instability continues to be their greatest challenge,” says CEO Melanie Kagan. In 2023, CFR served 52 families in short-term housing (108 children) and 61 families (219 children) in its permanent housing programs.

Kagan also notes that food insecurity remains a significant issue for families in Cobb County. Last year, CFR distributed more than 50,000 pounds of food, serving over 1,000 children through its food pantry. In 2023, CFR converted the food pantry into a Choice Pantry, set up like a grocery store to allow families the dignity of choosing from various healthy food options. The organization’s largest community food drive—Thanks for Giving—is preparing for this fall.

“In 2023, our focus was to position The Center for Family Resources to better meet the needs of our community,” says Kagan. “Too many children in our Cobb community face housing insecurity—living in motels, cars, friends’ or relatives’ houses—anywhere but a stable place to call home. These are more than statistics; they are a daily representation of a challenging reality for children and their families.”

The CFR’s 2023 annual report is available on The CFR website at www.thecfr.org.

CFR is funded through community engagement, grants and government contracts, with 23 percent of funds coming from fundraising events and in-kind donations. Individual and corporate donations as well as volunteers are always needed. To donate or volunteer, please contact ChristalMcNair@thecfr.org

###