Monday’s demolition of an old community building signaled a major step a local non profit.
Bridge Builder Communities demolished the old community building at 1140 Merry St. on Nov. 18 to make way for its tiny home community for teens transitioning out of the foster care system.
“This significant event marks a major step toward the future development of a thriving, supportive space for the community to provide critical life skills to young adults aging out of the foster care system,” according to a news release.
Preston Tutt of Tutt Contracting carried out the demolition.
“We’re thrilled to begin this next chapter and take another step closer to providing the resources and support that the youth in our community so greatly need,” said Dr. Jackson Drumgoole, Executive Director of Bridge Builder Communities, in the news release.
In partnership with Drumgoole Family Initiatives, Bridge Builder Communities will build a tiny home village that will “provide safe affordable housing, educational opportunities, certification completion programs, on-site counseling, job training and structured support systems to help young adults aging out of the foster care system transition successfully into adulthood,” according to the Bridge Builder Communities website.
When teens reach their 18th birthday, they are released from the foster care system. About 50% will become homeless within six months (20% are instantly homeless) and about 25% will go to prison within 24 months according to data at the Bridge Builder website.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for 35 years. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
