Bridge Builder Communities works to ensure that when foster youth reach adulthood, they are not left to navigate housing, employment, education and behavioral health needs alone.
The Augusta-based nonprofit, in partnership with Bill Beazley Homes, is building a tiny-home community paired with intensive, trauma-informed wraparound services designed specifically for young adults ages 18 to 25 who have exited foster care.
The community is taking shape with framing up and roofs going on them, according to a Jan. 19 Facebook post.
Bridge Builder Communities was co-founded by Dr. Jackson Drumgoole and ShDonna Drumgoole, a licensed clinical mental health therapist with decades of experience in behavioral health, education and social services.
ShDonna Drumgoole said the organization was created to address a recurring gap she witnessed across multiple systems while working as a social worker, counselor and educator.
“What I kept seeing was how quickly young people could fall through the cracks when they didn’t have anyone consistently in their corner,” Drumgoole said.
Drumgoole described how many young adults aging out of foster care are expected to “adult” overnight, often without stable housing, consistent relationships or practical life skills
“Young people would turn 18, and suddenly the supports that carried them through childhood disappeared, even though the need didn’t,” she said.
She noted that behavior commonly perceived as a lack of effort is frequently rooted in trauma.
Drumgoole said, “What looks like a lack of effort is often survival skills” that were developed through years of instability, loss and constant transitions.
She emphasized that these young adults do not need to be shamed.
“They don’t need pity; they need a fair shot, safe housing, consistent adults, and opportunities to build confidence and capability,” she said.
While some young people who age out of foster care have family members who can provide help with housing or income, thousands do not. Data from the Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Family and Children Services shows that approximately 600 to 700 youth age out of foster care in Georgia each year.
Research from the Annie E. Casey Foundation shows that young adults who exit foster care without permanent connections face significantly higher risks of homelessness, unemployment, poor educational outcomes and involvement with the criminal justice system within just a few years of leaving care. Drumgoole noted the sudden loss of support at such a critical developmental stage can quickly compound instability.
Bridge Builder Communities’ response is intentionally comprehensive and deliberately designed. The organization is developing a village of single-occupancy tiny homes that prioritize privacy, safety and dignity. Each home provides residents with their own independent living space while keeping them connected to a structured, supportive environment.
Drumgoole said the design process unfolded over several years and across multiple states, during which the team evaluated container homes, manufactured housing, and 3D-printed housing models. Architects, college design students, and the organization’s Youth Advisory Council, composed of young adults with lived foster care experience, all contributed to shaping the final layout. Residents may remain in the village until their 25th birthday, offering a longer and more realistic runway toward independence rather than a rushed transition.
Housing is paired with consistent on-site support and a clearly defined program structure. Residents do not simply receive keys; they enter a carefully planned program centered on individualized success planning.
Referrals may come from DFCS, schools, government agencies, nonprofits, or young adults themselves. Drumgoole described the intake process as layered and trauma-informed, beginning with screening to ensure the program is a good fit.
Each resident is then assigned a success manager, who serves as their consistent point of contact and mentor. The goal is multifaceted.
“The goal is not just placement; it’s a supported transition where the young adult feels respected, empowered, and genuinely welcomed into the community,” Drumgoole said.
Safety is foundational to the Bridge Builder Communities model. The property will include 24-hour video surveillance installed by a local security provider, controlled site access, and clearly defined program expectations regarding overnight visitors, guest access and zero tolerance for illegal drug activity.
Drumgoole said these safeguards are designed to protect residents rather than punish them.
“Not to be punitive, but to protect the safety and well-being of every resident,” she said. The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office has committed to maintaining a visible presence in the community to reinforce safety for residents, staff, and visitors.
The organization also places strong emphasis on family connection and reunification. While the tiny homes are single-occupancy and not intended as family housing, Bridge Builder Communities prioritizes strengthening healthy relationships whenever it is safe and appropriate. Drumgoole said the goal is not singular.
“One thing we never want to do is replace family,” she said, explaining that case managers help residents identify safe people, rebuild communication, establish boundaries and coordinate visits or transportation when possible.
The role of lived experience in shaping the program is reflected in the leadership of Sarah R. Michalke, a former foster youth who is now a member of the United States military and a mother. Michalke serves as president of the Youth Advisory Council for Bridge Builder Communities. She said her role is to ensure that the voices of young adults with lived experience remain central to program design.
“We need to advocate with youth and not on behalf of them,” Michalke said. “That’s how you prepare them for adulthood.”
Michalke explained that, in her own experience, advocacy was often either absent or excessive, sometimes to the point where her voice was lost. Effective support, she said, means teaching self-advocacy, challenging stigma, and knowing when to step back.
“There comes a time when you have to let them take the wheel,” she said.
She also shared a message she hopes foster youth carry forward as they transition into adulthood.
“Where you came from does not dictate where you are going,” Michalke said. “Resilience does not mean that the past did not hurt; it means that despite that pain, you keep going.”
Stability, she added, is something young adults can create for themselves.
“You are not broken or less than anyone else; you are capable of building the future you want,” Michalke said.
Education and workforce development are central pillars of the Bridge Builder Communities model. The organization has partnered with LAUNCH Augusta to help residents access career pathways, credentials, and long-term employment opportunities.
While healthcare is a strong focus, Drumgoole said additional pathways are being developed, including skilled trades, construction, entrepreneurship, and other workforce certifications. Each resident is assessed based on current education level, interests, barriers, and strengths, so goals are realistic, sequenced, and achievable.
In a statement provided to Augusta Good News, Dr. Kendra Broussard, founder and president of LAUNCH Augusta, said the partnership allows her organization to further its mission of serving underserved and underrepresented populations in a space it has not previously entered. She said LAUNCH Community Link will provide hands-on, interactive programming directly at Bridge Builder Communities, focusing on healthcare career exposure, professional readiness, and pathways to success in healthcare-related fields.
Bridge Builder Communities is also preparing residents for long-term financial independence and potential homeownership. Organization leadership said it has built relationships with local realtors and banks that provide financial literacy education, credit-building resources, and guidance on housing loan products as residents move through the Pathway Program.
Key community partnerships have played a major role in bringing the village to fruition, including the direct support from Bill Beazley Homes. In a media statement, Stephen Beazley highlighted the company’s longstanding commitment to community impact, noting that it is rooted in the legacy of Barbara C. Beazley, who founded the Columbia County Foundation for Children in 1994 to support local youth in need. He said her vision continues to inspire the company’s commitment to the community.
Looking ahead, Bridge Builder Communities’ leadership has made it clear that this model is intended to be scalable. If given the opportunity to expand into additional counties across Georgia, Drumgoole said the organization would absolutely pursue replication, bringing the same housing-plus-support approach to other communities facing similar gaps.
As Bridge Builder Communities prepares to begin intake in 2026, the organization will host its Second Annual Bridge Builders Gala on May 16, 2026, at the Bell Auditorium. Drumgoole said she hopes attendees leave with clarity about the gap being addressed, a deeper understanding of the young adults being served, and a conviction that supporting foster youth aging out of care is not charity, but a shared community responsibility. To learn more about Bridge Builder Communities, visit its website at www.bridgebuildercommunities.org.
Nick Lovett is an independent journalist with over 20 years of experience in news media and marketing. A former writer for Aiken Standard and Fort Gordon’s Signal newspaper, she focuses on human interest stories that highlight resilience, community and positive change.
