DIGS Inc. looks to the future
The organization pushes on to rebuild its residence for adults with developmental challenges and start on the women’s facility.
In spite of the trauma from a fire, which is under an arson investigation, leaders of DIGS Inc. are as determined as ever to rebuild their home for men with developmental disabilities and move forward with plans for a new home for women.
“Our goal is to continue as long as there is a need,” said Charles Schroeder, president of the organization’s board.
Schroeder spoke about the recents events at the Rome Exchange Club meeting Friday.
“We will show this person (responsible for the Oct. 15 fire) that this community is behind us,” Louise Schroeder Branham said.
A fire set in two locations in the early morning of Oct. 15 is still under investigation by the Rome-Floyd County Fire Marshal’s Office and Rome Police Department. Schroeder said no one was in the home at the time and he suspects those responsible knew no one was there.
Schroeder said fire damage was contained to where the fires originated, but the entire house sustained smoke and water damage. He estimated that reconstruction would take at least three months, once work begins. He did not know when repairs would start.
Schroeder explained that federal rules prohibit the establishment of a “community” of
Read this story online to see a Google map of the DIGS home and for a link to the GoFundMe website. Charles Schroeder president of DIGS Inc.
homes for the developmentally disabled, because federal regulations would consider that to be an institution. However, he hopes there is enough property at the 30 Brook Valley Court site of the men’s home to actually construct the proposed women’s home.
“If not, then we’ll look for another location,” Schroeder said.
The four men who were housed at 30 Brook Valley Court are staying in hotels. DIGS and officials with Developmental Disabilities Ministries of Georgia, which operates the home, are looking for a four-bedroom, three-bath home to house the men until reconstruction is complete.
Branham said a Boogie on Broad event is slated for Nov. 5 to raise funds for the new women’s home. Registration will begin at 10 a.m. and the dance up Broad Street will begin at 11 a.m. Registration for the event is $10 and is available online at www.digsrome.org.
The group has already raised $75,000 of the $180,000 goal and really wants to keep fundraising for the women’s home separate from fundraising for the men’s home. A GoFundMe page is open for donations to the reconstruction effort.