A tiny home community for homeless teens
This nonprofit created a tiny home community for homeless teens that have aged out of foster care — and it's preparing them for independence and adulthood.
Nonprofit’s solution for youth homelessness
Tiny home community
Pivot is a nonprofit established in 1972 in Oklahoma City that provides homes to young people who would otherwise be homeless. The homes are on Pivot’s campus, which also has an emergency shelter for teens ages 12 to 17, and 2 apartments for those over 17. The first month of rent is free, and then it gradually rises until reaching a cap of $150 per month. Currently, there are 3 tiny homes built, 20 more on the way by June 2021, with a plan for 85 total tiny homes. So far, the nonprofit has received $1.4 million in grants for the construction of these life-saving projects.
“[The] most exciting part? Probably a real bed because for almost a year, I'd slept on a lumpy sectional couch. So having a real bed has been really nice and being able to switch from sleeping on the side to this side or like sitting up in bed or just chilling — it's really nice. It's weird to have ownership like that. I mean, like, I never in my life thought like I’d have a coffee machine, or that I'd cook a meal in my kitchen, or that I would put stickers and pictures on my fridge with magnets,” Carter, the first resident, shares with Brut.
Homelessness in Oklahoma City
15% of those experiencing homelessness in Oklahoma City are 24 or younger, as reported by the 2019 Point in Time count. Today, Pivot is a finalist for the 13th Annual Oklahoma Nonprofit Excellence Awards that would win the organization $10 thousand toward their cause. Jennifer Goodrich —president, CEO, and Vice President of Programming— has been with the company since November 1999. She has worked towards programming to help support these young people through a period of time without the traditional financial and emotional support of their parents.
Brut.
32 comments
Elizabeth C.
04/01/2020 18:05👌🏻 this is awesome
Karen H.
04/01/2020 02:34Good idea 👍. It's hard enough to get a start with a supporting family. All youth need that extra guidance, a stepping stone to transition into independence. We need more for the veterans and the disabled also.
Karen B.
03/31/2020 23:38Boy that is wonderful ❤️ congrats!!
Judy S.
03/31/2020 23:14I love this idea. Maybe some would be interested in learning about building, electrical, painting, plumbing, etc. and could be hired by the contractors building the rest of the homes!!
Becky G.
03/31/2020 20:39Cool
Barb A.
03/30/2020 22:03Should do this for veterans also.
Roxanne H.
03/30/2020 15:24🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Jeri C.
03/30/2020 11:49Great job!
Dolores P.
03/30/2020 09:40Heartwarming! Being a teen is hard enough. Being without a home or family can doom a young person . Would definitely support such a program in my county .
Steven R.
03/30/2020 06:24U tube Harvard professor arrested
Becky S.
03/30/2020 02:08Very cool
Kathy W.
03/29/2020 23:40.....how cool
Rene A.
03/28/2020 22:33This is amazing!!!!
Marie P.
03/28/2020 13:16wonderful
Dawn W.
03/28/2020 02:24Yes we need those - these kids have no where to go
Bev B.
03/27/2020 04:23I want this for us Seniors who don’t need to be in assisted living buildings. *better yet for my foster granddaughter and I to live next door to one another.
Nancy T.
03/27/2020 03:08A really GREAT idea!
Christina S.
03/26/2020 20:54I love it!
Tom B.
03/26/2020 19:40This is heart-warming.
Lynn G.
03/26/2020 19:36What a great generous idea. It seems that turning 18 just dumps youth out on their own.