Homeless Teens Aging Out Of Foster Care Move Into Tiny Houses, Learn To Cook And Budget

Sep 12, 2020

Foster care provides a home for young people in need. Unfortunately, there is an age requirement associated with most foster care programs.

Luckily, one charity in Oklahoma is adamant about addressing that dire issue. In this story from October 2019, an organization named Pivot aims to help teenagers who age out of foster care by providing them with the tools and skills they need to succeed in the real world. 

Those not familiar with how foster care works may assume there isn't any hard cut-off age if the young person has no home to go to. Unfortunately, depending on which state you live in, 18 or 21, the age in which someone becomes an adult, serves as the cut-off point for many teenagers in need.

With nowhere to go, many older teens may find themselves always looking for a place to crash. They might not always find someone willing to take them in for a night or two. Thankfully, there is one charitable organization that is eager to help.

Pivot is an organization that has a unique plan for helping now-homeless former foster kids. The organization works at placing them in tiny homes at no cost.

Tiny homes are what their name implies, homes that are far smaller than a minuscule studio apartment. Tiny homes first gained popularity among people looking to live a more sustainable and environmentally conscious life. Using less contributes to conservation. In time, others gravitated towards tiny homes because the properties come with far fewer expenses compared to an unaffordable house or even an apartment. 

With the tiny homes located behind the Pivot offices, the youth are able to utilize Pivot's services nearby as they're getting settled into life on their own. Some of these include getting help with learning how to cook, how to properly grocery shop, and how to budget, according to the organization's website. Pivot is helping support and set up at-risk youth for a better life.

As reported by Oklahoma's News 9 in 2019, Pivot saw more potential in tiny homes. The management at the organization realized tiny homes could help people with no place to go.

Tiny homes are usually found on someone else's property and incorporated into the owner's lot. Pivot's tiny home setup is no different. The tiny dwellings stand in the back of the Pivot offices. Pivot places homeless teens in the tiny homes free of charge at first. Then, the rent increases until it caps at a mere $150 per month, according to 12Tomatoes. So, in addition to providing a place to live, the tiny home offers motivation to seek full-time employment.

The story of Pivot and teens who have a place to stay shows many good and caring people exist in the world. It's nice to be reminded of this fact. Tell us your thoughts about this development in the comments below, then pass on this positive story to those you know!