Matt Hamilton/The Daily CitizenFrom left, Crawford K. McDonald, Crawford McDonald and Michael A. McClendon stand in the living area of a mobile home that McClendon will use to house those in need. 

DALTON, Ga. — Michael A. McClendon said he didn’t know what to do the first time a woman with two children called him seeking shelter after being beaten by her husband.

His organization, Whatever It Takes, an outreach ministry out of Chattanooga, was started to help homeless men.

“We didn’t know what to do at times like that because we’ve only dealt with men,” said McClendon, the founder and director.

Now thanks to a donation of four mobile homes from Dalton native Crawford K. McDonald, vice president of ECM (Ernest Crawford McDonald) Real Estate in north Georgia, McClendon has a place to house those that need help.

“They are designed to be temporary accommodation during critical points in life such as getting out of prison or escaping an abusive relationship,” McDonald said Thursday afternoon.

McClendon said he plans to use two of the homes for felons who are out of prison so that they can more easily readjust to society. The remaining two are for battered women and the homeless.

The mobile homes are currently on Henderson Street in Dalton and will be moved to McClendon’s property in Ringgold soon.

McDonald said he’s happy to help a great cause.

“Our business has been successful in the past year and this is my way of giving back,” he said. “The community has given us a lot. In addition to this we realize there are certain ways you can help communities.”  

“When someone is incarcerated and comes back in society there is a 75 percent chance that person may reoffend,” he said. “I am very impressed with what Michael is doing, because there is little support for people in these situations.”

McDonald said felons are released into very unfamiliar territory and if they reoffend it costs the taxpayers.  

McClendon said he heard of McDonald’s offer through a mutual Facebook friend. McClendon shared his plans for the homes with McDonald who told him the only stipulation is that he couldn’t use them to benefit himself, only to “help his fellow man.” 

“What most people are not aware of is if felons have a support system the reoffending number is cut in half,” McDonald said. “They want to work and contribute to society.”

McDonald said they often don’t have resources available.

While McClendon said he loves helping people, he said he also requires them to be proactive. He gives them two weeks to find a job.

“You have to pick yourself up,” he said. “I’m not going to put someone on my shoulder and carry them, I’ve got too many more to carry.”