With your help, Community Heights will transform a former Dalton motel into the region’s first nonprofit housing resource center, offering 100 safe, affordable rooms and a portal-for-entry to housing services in Whitfield County.
A Safe Home. A Stronger Dalton.
The number of people in the U.S. experiencing unstable housing is at a record high, affecting more than 1.3 million school-aged children nationwide. In Georgia, more than 40,000 K-12 students experienced unstable housing last school year.
In Dalton and Whitfield County, the number of kids in unstable housing was nearly 700 last school year. Over 100 of those were found living with their families in unsafe motels. This is partly because Dalton has no emergency shelter for families. Instead, local charities and churches place families in motels using what is known as a “motel voucher system.”
Providing motel vouchers to households in need is not uncommon across the country, but the options for spending the vouchers in Dalton are limited and put families in a bad environment they struggle to get out of. Community Heights will change this.
Dalton’s Housing Crisis Is Growing, but with your help, we can solve it.
Our Vision
A safe place for our most vulnerable children to sleep and a first-of-its-kind housing resource center for nonprofits to offer housing-related services to the community.
When Community Heights opens, it will:
Provide safe housing for over 100 households each year.
Combine housing and social services under one roof for a first-of-its-kind, locally run housing resource center.
Reduce financial strain on local charities and churches currently covering high motel fees.
Create a pathway to stability, helping families transition into permanent housing.
Beyond the numbers, this project restores dignity, safety, and hope for our children - giving them the foundation to thrive.
100 family-ready rooms with affordable weekly rates, basic furnishings and two beds.
AT A GLANCE
Support DWCDC’s vision. Help Us secure a safe, stable future for everyone in whitfield county.
Get Engaged
Community Champions
$1 – $10K
Become a community champion and help bring Community Heights to life. Contribute to help local families receive safe, affordable housing and support - in the near future and years to come.
Leadership donors
$25K - $75K
Become a leadership donor and influence local families in need. Leadership donors will be offered recognition within the housing resource center.
Legacy Contributors
$100K +
Become a legacy contributor and be foundational in the creation of Community Heights. Legacy contributors will be offered special recognition within the housing resource center.
Growing and building through the years
Today
3 months
6 months
1 year
We forge community partnerships to secure the deed for Dalton’s first housing resource center with integrated housing to shelter 100 local households in need.
With fundraising complete and the deed secured, Community Heights will prepare to open its doors and begin serving the community.
Community partnerships via the Housing Stability Coalition will be in full swing, and Community Heights will begin hosting legal clinics, workforce training, student events, and more.
Dalton sets itself apart as a community resource leader, uplifting local families and investing in future development that grows our local economy and helps our community thrive.
MEET OUR TEAM
DWCDC has supported Northwest Georgia residents for over 20 years through housing counseling, permanent housing programs, transitional housing, and community partnerships. Our mission is to build safe, stable pathways to long-term housing stability.
Executive Director
Reed Fincher
Marlene Alfaro
Housing Counselor
Karen Sutton
Permanent Supportive Housing Specialist
Mayvit Corbin
Health Support Housing Specialist
Our Partners
The Housing Stability Coalition brings together nonprofits, schools, faith groups, and legal aid in support of a shared vision to strengthen housing stability in Dalton.
Our community Our Future
The strength of Dalton lies in the people who call it home. Community Heights is more than a project, it’s a promise we make together to ensure every family can live with dignity, safety, and hope. This vision will only come to life through the support of local partners - churches, schools, businesses, and neighbors - working side by side to build a foundation for lasting change.
When our community unites, we don’t just create housing; we create a future where every child has the chance to thrive - right here in Dalton.
Frequently Asked Questions FAQs
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Community Heights is a first-of-its-kind housing resource center that will provide safe, affordable rooms for families with children, seniors, and disabled people, along with a centralized hub for housing-related services. It is designed to help families move out of unsafe motels and into stable, long-term housing.
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Dalton and Whitfield County currently have no emergency shelter for families. As a result, families in crisis are often placed in unsafe motels with limited oversight and high costs. Community Heights addresses this gap by offering a safe, dignified alternative that supports families while they work toward permanent housing.
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In addition to housing, Community Heights will include office space where nonprofits can offer services such as housing navigation, workforce development, counseling, and other community supports — all under one roof.
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Community Heights will be supported through a combination of donations, payments from families, and grant funding. The immediate need is for $1,500,000 - to acquire the property and complete some necessary renovations before opening.
After the initial fundraising goal is met, the property is projected to be financially self-sustaining. Normal revenue will cover operating costs, allowing Community Heights to remain stable while reinvesting in services that support families and strengthen the broader community.
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Yes. Donations to Community Heights are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law, as the project is led by the Dalton-Whitfield Community Development Corporation, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. You will receive a donation receipt for your records after your gift is processed.
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Spread the news! Community Heights needs local donations and support. When the building opens, it will also create many opportunities for local individuals and organizations to volunteer, and we welcome building those partnerships now. Email Reed for more information.