PC(USA) church in Georgia offers free housing to two of its preschool teachers
First Presbyterian Church of LaGrange rolls out its Groundspring initiative
Something revolutionary is taking root of LaGrange, Georgia. Groundspring, an initiative of First Presbyterian Church of LaGrange, aims to provide free housing for teachers who serve at the church’s childcare center.
Launched earlier this year as a partnership between the church and local nonprofit Dependable Affordable Sustainable Housing (DASH), Groundspring addresses some of the greatest challenges childcare centers and families are navigating today.
“It is no secret that our early childhood education system faces its fair share of growing edges, specifically in the areas of just compensation of teachers and in the supply — or lack thereof — of fully affordable, accessible centers,” said the Rev. James Goodlet, Lead Pastor of FPC. “We hope Groundspring represents the first step of a much larger movement at First Presbyterian Church seeking to address these critical issues in our community.”
Groundspring will begin with a pilot phase for which two teachers have been selected to receive the free housing benefit.
The program is modeled after a rent-free teacher housing initiative established by Friends Center for Children in New Haven, Connecticut. As such, Groundspring is the second program nationwide to provide a free housing benefit for its teachers.
“FPC approached us looking to make a difference in the community outside of the walls of the church. Through several brainstorming sessions, we arrived at the conclusion that housing is a desperate need for many in our community,” said Nate Crawford, Executive Director of DASH.
Crawford said that while DASH has partnered on many projects, Groundspring is unique to them.
“In this case, housing is not the main goal, but a key supporting factor in creating better outcomes for childcare workers and children in the daycare/preschool program,” Crawford said.
FPC hopes that removing teachers’ largest monthly expense will help them focus on what they do best — caring for and teaching the children of our community.
"By providing them with housing, we are not only giving them a place to call home but also investing in their future,” said LaTasha Owens, Director of the FPC Childcare Center. “This initiative will empower them to focus on their professional development and personal ambitions, knowing that their basic needs are taken care of.”
Owens emphasized that Groundspring assures teachers they are seen, supported, and never taken for granted.
“This initiative demonstrates to our teachers that we are attentive to their needs and committed to providing financial support,” said Owens. “By offering housing, we empower them to excel and reach their full potential."
By removing the burden of housing costs, Groundspring offers more than just a place to live; it creates breathing room for educators to focus on their well-being and future. Owens believes this kind of support can be life-changing for those in the program.
“I believe this will have a profound impact on their lives as it provides them with the opportunity to save money and eliminate any debts they may possess. Additionally, it alleviates the stress of worrying about how they will pay their rent if they need to take a day or two off work,” Owens said.
The name “Groundspring” was inspired by Isaiah 58: 11-12, originally spoken to a people who knew well the pains of feeling exiled, unseen, and uncared for. The passage from Isaiah states, “The Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your needs in parched places and make your bones strong, and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters never fail. Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.” Groundspring thus reflects both the firm foundation upon which these homes stand and the spirit of renewal and restoration that flows through the program.
“We see this initiative as something that God is springing forth — not only for the lives of these incredible teachers, but also for the generations of their families to follow for whom these foundations are being established,” said Goodlet.
For more information visit fpclagrange.org/groundspring.
Jenna Eady is Director of Digital Ministry at First Presbyterian Church of LaGrange, Georgia.
You may freely reuse and distribute this article in its entirety for non-commercial purposes in any medium. Please include author attribution, photography credits, and a link to the original article. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDeratives 4.0 International License.
