Teenagers that age out of the foster care system aren’t left with a lot of resources. It’s not that these teens are bad kids, a lot of the time it’s that they are coming from a situation where they are left with nothing. A good example of this is 19 year old Carter. Carter was placed into the foster care system because his mother died when he was 10 and his father was incarcerated. It has nothing to do with him, it was just that he was unable to take advantage of a lot of other opportunities that teens his age have.
Enter Pivot, a non-profit organization that raises money and offers a variety of services to teens aging out of foster care, and moving into the real world. They helped with things like therapy and clothing, but the biggest problem they were noticing was the housing situation for these youth. For teens like Carter, who tried living in a homeless shelter, couch surfing, and staying with some family, finding a place of their own is hard and more than likely something that they can’t afford. Pivot saw this problem and brainstormed ways that they could make a difference in terms of housing these young adults.
What they came up with is gaining some serious attention. They found that tiny houses are affordable quick fixes for teens starting to become independent. The tiny house trend has been most popular with young people who want to live minimally or be closer to nature. The small easy to take care of, and cheap place is perfect for teens who are learning to be on their own. These tiny homes are small manageable spaces that allow teens to live by themselves for next to nothing, and also don’t break the bank for the non-profit providing them.
Right now Pivot has only a few of these homes, to test the waters and see how things go for a few of their clients. The first month of rent is free, and then after 2 months it increases to $100 a month. Months 4 through 5, rent goes up to $125, but caps off at $150 for 6 months or longer. The homes are built just behind the Pivot offices so the teens are still close to the services that the non-profit offers them. They also start helping them transition into adulthood by teaching them life skills like grocery shopping, budgeting, and even cooking
The idea is catching on quickly and the organization already plans on building more homes by the end of the year thanks to generous donors and volunteers. These transitional housing options are doing great things for the youth, and giving them hope. Teaching these young adults that they can be successful and make their way in the world despite their past circumstances is something that is necessary, and Pivot has found a way to let these teens know that in everything that they do.
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