RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN - Barnabas Vision, a Murfreesboro-based nonprofit, believes that everyone deserves access to safe, stable housing. Yet for many families, security and utility deposits create insurmountable barriers, even when they have enough income to afford the monthly rent. To address this challenge, Barnabas Vision launched its Deposit Program, providing crucial assistance to help families transition from homelessness to secure housing.

David Coggin, who co-founded Barnabas Vision with his wife Maria, highlighted the significant costs involved in securing an apartment... These expenses often total $3,000 or more, creating a substantial financial burden for families. To make matters even more challenging, after covering deposit fees and their first month’s rent to move in, families have to pay a full month’s rent again at the start of their second month in their new home, which means they may pay $1,400 to $2,500 thirty days after they paid their first months rent and security deposit.

In 2024, Barnabas Vision staff and volunteers made a significant impact, helping 26 families experiencing homelessness find stable homes. The Deposit Program provided financial support to cover the often-exorbitant upfront costs of securing housing, enabling those families to overcome one of the largest obstacles to stability. On average, just $630 can help a struggling family move into a safe and secure home.

Families who never anticipated it can suddenly find themselves struggling and even without a place to stay due to a single unexpected event. This could be a serious illness, the loss of a loved one, or unforeseen expenses, such as costly car repairs... That was Maria Coggin with the local non-profit.

This GivingTuesday (Tuesday, December 3, 2024), Barnabas Vision is highlighting their Deposit Program and inviting the community to contribute to this life-changing initiative. Every dollar donated will go directly toward helping more families find and get into housing in 2025. Donations can be made online or by mailing a check with GivingTuesday noted in the memo line to 141 MTCS Road, Murfreesboro, TN 37129.

Giving Tuesday is a global movement of generosity and unity, observed annually on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving in the United States. Its purpose is to inspire individuals and organizations to come together, give back, and create positive change in their communities.

About Barnabas Vision: Founded in 2011 by David and Maria Coggin, Barnabas Vision has been a steadfast advocate for meeting the greatest needs in Rutherford County. Grounded in their mission to spread the light of Jesus, the organization’s volunteers and board members work tirelessly to address the evolving challenges faced by local families.

Through their Deposit Program, Barnabas Vision demonstrates how a relatively small contribution can create a lasting impact, offering families the stability and dignity of a safe home. This GivingTuesday, the community has an opportunity to make a difference—one family, one home, and one future at a time.