Kathy Swahn, David Hammond, and Nesha Mason, The Drake House, on How a Leadership North Fulton Class Project Became 20 Years of Housing for Single Mothers and Children (GNFCC 400 Insider, Episode 119)
On this episode of the GNFCC 400 Insider, host Kali Boatright marks the 20th anniversary of The Drake House with two of its founders, Kathy Swahn and David Hammond, and current president Nesha Mason. The Roswell nonprofit, which provides housing and support for single mothers and their children experiencing homelessness, began as the service project of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership North Fulton class of 2004.
Kathy and David take listeners back to the class’s shelter site visits in Atlanta, where every agency explained that boys 12 and over go to the men’s shelter, away from their mothers. They describe how a class of 28 chose to build a single lasting organization, presented the plan to a packed Chamber meeting with about a dozen donors already on board, and worked with HomeAid Atlanta to rebuild a run-down 16-unit Roswell apartment complex down to the studs. The first family moved in during June 2006.
Nesha describes the organization today: 32 units, a fresh market, a sports court, and services for both mothers and children. She walks through the path from crisis housing to Drake Village transitional housing to a workforce housing pilot, shares that about 70 percent of the mothers served have some post-secondary education, and explains how student debt, eviction debt, childcare, healthcare, and transportation expenses now stack on top of housing. She also reports a success rate of about 80 percent or higher across the organization’s 20 years.
The conversation also considers what The Drake House shows about the Leadership North Fulton program, and David and Kathy each recall when they realized the organization had grown beyond the class that started it. Nesha explains how The Drake House works with a Professional Women’s Career Network of more than 300 alumni and invites listeners to become employer partners, serve as industry mentors, or donate to and shop at the Drake Closet boutiques in Roswell, Sandy Springs, and Alpharetta.
The GNFCC 400 Insider is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and produced by John Ray and the North Fulton affiliate of Business RadioX®.
Key Takeaways from This Episode
- The Drake House began as the service project of the Leadership North Fulton class of 2004, after shelter site visits showed that boys 12 and over were separated from their mothers.
- The idea took hold with support from United Way and Fulton County data, backing from the Chamber, about a dozen early donors, and seven or eight classmates on the first board.
- HomeAid Atlanta helped rebuild a run-down 16-unit Roswell apartment complex, and the first family moved in during June 2006.
- Today The Drake House has 32 units, a fresh market, a sports court, and a continuum that runs from crisis housing to Drake Village transitional housing to a workforce housing pilot.
- About 70 percent of the mothers served have some post-secondary education, and student debt, eviction debt, childcare, healthcare, and transportation expenses now accompany the need for housing.
- The organization reports a success rate of about 80 percent or higher over 20 years and is refining its data collection this year.
- David Hammond describes realizing in a board meeting that it was time to make space for other leaders.
- Employers and professionals can help through employer partnerships, industry mentoring, career services, and the Drake Closet boutiques.
Topics Discussed in this Episode
00:00 Introduction to the GNFCC 400 Insider and the 20th anniversary of The Drake House
01:24 Guest introductions: Kathy Swahn, David Hammond, and Nesha Mason
01:41 How the Leadership North Fulton class of 2004 discovered the problem
02:05 Shelter site visits and the separation of boys 12 and over from their mothers
04:35 Why the class chose one lasting project
06:30 The hardest parts of launching The Drake House
09:07 Why the work could not be finished between August and May
10:44 Classmates and partners who made the early work possible
13:23 Presenting to the Chamber and lining up the first donors
14:58 From the class of 2004 to the first family in 2006
16:02 Finding the 16-unit Roswell complex and rebuilding it to the studs
17:30 Nesha Mason on The Drake House today
19:54 From crisis housing to Drake Village and the workforce housing pilot
23:36 Higher education, student debt, and layers of debt among families served
25:07 An 80 percent success rate across 20 years
26:27 What The Drake House shows about Leadership North Fulton
29:36 When the founders realized the organization had outgrown the class
32:20 How listeners can help: employer partners, mentors, and career services
34:57 The Drake Closet resale boutiques
36:01 Looking ahead to the next 20 years and how to connect with The Drake House
Leadership North Fulton
Leadership North Fulton (LNF), now in its 38th year, has been the region’s signature leadership development program for more than 30 years. Pillars of the program include promoting community awareness, instilling civic responsibility, and building relationships. Participants engage civic leaders through program class days, and many alumni have gone on to serve on community nonprofit boards or as elected officials. Each year, graduating participants join the ranks of more than 500 LNF alumni.
The program includes an orientation, a two-day kickoff retreat, eight full-day class days, and a graduation luncheon. The curriculum covers North Fulton demographics, government and policy, economic development, education and talent development, health and wellness, and public safety and justice. LNF service projects continue to impact the region in a lasting way, including the founding of The Drake House in 2004, the Emerging Leaders Youth Program in 2009, and the North Metro Miracle League golf tournament, which began in 2005.
The Drake House
The Drake House provides a short-term crisis and an affordable housing program for single mothers and their children experiencing homelessness in North Metro Atlanta. Their educational, empowerment, and mentoring programs assist families in becoming financially self-sufficient and contributing members of the community. The Drake House is the only agency in the area offering an emergency residential program, serving approximately 50 families with 100 children per year. The Drake House envisions a community where every family has the opportunity to recover quickly with dignity from their homeless situation.
Kathy Swahn, Board Chair Emeritus and Retired Executive Director, The Drake House
Kathy has resided in the North Fulton area for almost 45 years. She has watched the community evolve from what was “unincorporated Fulton County” to a six-city bustling suburban community. Her history has been marked by a strong emphasis on children: she raised two daughters as a stay-at-home mother, held leadership positions in school PTAs and Girl Scouts, participated in the National Charity League and the North Fulton Council of PTAs, and held the position of chair of the Superintendent’s Advisory Council.
Kathy resumed her career by entering the nonprofit sector. She joined the team at North Fulton Community Charities, running their holiday program, becoming Development Director and successfully managing the $3 million capital campaign for their Elkins Road location. Along the way, she also served on the DFACS Board and chaired the board of the Fulton County Continuum of Care for four years.
After having the opportunity to join in the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program, Kathy was surrounded with a dynamic group of folks who worked to create The Drake House. Since 2004, she served as board chair for the first four years and executive director for nine years and is now retired. Over those years, The Drake House served over 500 single mothers with over 1,000 children and grew the assets of the organization to over $4 million.
Kathy continues to serve The Drake House on the Advocacy Committee, along with her work for the North Fulton Improvement Network.
She spends much of her time traveling to the DC area, where her children and grandchildren reside.
David Hammond, President Emeritus, The Drake House
David Hammond is President Emeritus of The Drake House, which he helped found as a member of the Leadership North Fulton class of 2004. His roles with the organization have included founder’s group member, treasurer, and chair of the board, along with service on its Resource/Finance, Board Nomination, and Partner Recognition committees.
A Roswell native, David is a technology consulting and professional services executive. He served as president of Abel Solutions, an Atlanta-area IT consulting firm, from 2005 to 2025, leading its post-acquisition growth and earning 2021 Small Business of Excellence recognition from the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce. He is now a professional services executive at Higher Power Consulting. David previously served on the board of the Technology Association of Georgia and holds a finance degree from Emory University.
Nesha Mason, President, The Drake House
Nesha Mason brings a diverse skill set with more than 20 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. Nesha worked as an operations director in the private sector before transitioning to public service, serving as Mayor for the City of Abilene, Kansas. After her tenure as an elected official, Nesha served as program director for a county-wide nonprofit developing programs that united the medical and early childhood communities. Upon relocation to the Atlanta area in 2013, she served as a Fulton County educator and then transitioned to executive director of a statewide educational foundation focusing on unifying education and workforce development.
In her current role as President of The Drake House, Nesha Mason combines her leadership skills, educational expertise, and commitment to community welfare to lead and support initiatives that empower families and create lasting positive change. Under her leadership, the organization has expanded from housing and support to offering a comprehensive pathway from homelessness to stability. She has enhanced programming, upgraded facilities, and forged vital partnerships to create a community of support for families in need. Nesha also spearheaded the North Fulton Housing Collaborative, uniting nonprofits for greater impact. Her fiscal expertise has grown The Drake House’s budget by 78.5%, ensuring quality care and lasting change for vulnerable families.
About GNFCC and The GNFCC 400 Insider Podcast
The GNFCC 400 Insider is sponsored by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC), and the host of the show is Kali Boatright, President and CEO of GNFCC.
The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit, member-driven organization comprised of over 1,400 business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions, and individuals. Their service area includes Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell, and Sandy Springs. GNFCC is the leading voice on economic development, business growth, and quality of life issues in North Fulton County.
As a five-star accredited chamber, GNFCC’s vision is to be the premier organization driving member and community success across the region, and it is dedicated to pursuing this vision based on the guiding principles of advocacy, inclusivity, and operational excellence.
GNFCC promotes the interests of its members by assuming a leadership role in making North Fulton an excellent place to work, live, play, and stay. They provide one voice for all local businesses to influence decision-makers, recommend legislation, and protect the valuable resources that make North Fulton a popular place to live.
For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806. For more information on other GNFCC events, follow this link.
