A Shared Commitment to Change: Jack Hardin and the DREAM Project
From the DREAM Gala to the future of housing in South DeKalb, a longtime leader reflects on the work ahead
“What’s this little White boy Presbyterian doing in this crowd?”
That’s how Jack Hardin began his remarks at New Life Church and New Life Community Alliance’s 2025 DREAM Gala – a year-end event celebrating impact and raising support for the DREAM Project. Amidst a predominantly Black audience, Hardin led with humor, honesty, and a clear awareness of the room he stood in.
However, he didn’t stay focused on what made him different. Instead, Hardin quickly turned to what brought him to the DREAM Gala: a shared commitment to ending homelessness in Atlanta.
A Shared Commitment to Change
“I’ve had the privilege of chairing the Regional Commission on Homelessness,” he continues, “and we’ve been working on the same problems that New Life has been tackling.”
As someone who has spent decades shaping homelessness policy in Georgia, his perspective carries weight. From his first visit to NLCA, Hardin says he “immediately connected with the love, heart, and goodness” of its leaders and volunteers. This connection deepened as he witnessed both hands-on service and long-term strategies to create housing stability.
“The church has been very helpful in supporting people who are precariously housed or who have lost their housing,” he shared. “They even received an honorable mention in Brian Goldstone’s book.”
In There Is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America, Goldstone follows five Atlantans navigating homelessness despite holding multiple jobs. Amid this sobering account of systemic barriers, NLCA stands out. They offer practical support through case management. This is a powerful recognition that underscores NLCA’s leadership in providing housing stability.
That leadership matters now more than ever. Rising housing costs and limited options continue to put stable housing out of reach for many families in South DeKalb. NLCA’s legacy of hands-on service and trusted support is what makes it uniquely positioned to deepen its impact in South DeKalb with the DREAM Community Revitalization Project.
The DREAM Community Revitalization Project
The DREAM Project is designed to connect high-quality, affordable housing with education, workforce development, and wellness all in one place.
In October 2025, NLCA received rezoning approval for the DREAM Project. Phase One includes 22 townhomes and 10 single-family homes. “This effort to build affordable housing expands the number of affordable housing options in the community,” Hardin remarks, “and that’s a positive good.”
Choosing Hope in Uncertain Times
As Hardin closed his remarks, his message turned sobering. “We’re about to go through the wilderness. The federal government is knocking the props right under us,” he says. For many organizations and individuals working to serve their communities, his words rang true.
Yet, Hardin provides encouragement on how to move forward. “But we can choose hope. We can have faith. And with that, we can have purpose.”
As NLCA seeks to address the housing crisis for neighbors in South DeKalb, we remain committed to acting in, and fostering, hope.
Join the Work
At NLCA, we are building thriving communities of hope and possibility. If this resonates with you, we invite you to be part of what comes next. Explore opportunities to volunteer with NLCA and donate to the DREAM Project.
