The story of Genesis Joy House began long before its doors ever opened. At the age of 12, Dr. Margaret Queen-Flowers, Founder and CEO, felt a deep calling to serve women experiencing homelessness. What started as a heartfelt vision has grown into a movement of hope, resilience, and restoration. Now celebrating 15 years of service, Genesis Joy House stands as a testament to what faith, perseverance, and community can accomplish together.
“A woman who has served her country shouldn’t have to be homeless or lose her children when she returns,” says Margaret, whose son, husband, and late father-in-law were all veterans. “There are shelters for homeless male veterans, but none that are exclusively for homeless female veterans in the state of Georgia. It feels like they’ve been forgotten.”
Margaret and her husband, Edward Flowers, III, formed a nonprofit to advocate for homeless female veterans. In search of a property to utilize to provide temporary housing, they found just what they prayed for – A site with three buildings on one parcel—a duplex home, a fellowship hall building, and a five-unit studio apartment building. The property was donated to them by a businessman and can house up to eight homeless female veterans, and their minor dependent children per program cycle.
The work of Genesis Joy House is supported by the military members stationed at the Robins Airforce Base, the city’s mayor, the community, and many local church groups.
When talking about their search for homeless female veterans, Margaret says it’s an unforeseen challenge. “I have to go into wood encampments to seek them out,” she says. When weather allows, homeless women are seen living on ragged couches, and dispersed throughout the community.