For Youth, By Youth

“For Youth, By Youth”

This is the motto for the new affordable housing units on 48 Cashin Avenue. Two Choices for Youth programs, Impact Construction and Momma Moments, are collaborating to create five new affordable housing units for new or expecting mothers and their families.

Momma Moments is a peer-to-peer support program for young parents or pregnant mothers. This program focuses on the well-being of mother and child. This is all encompassing including mental, physical, spiritual and social wellness. This program provides the necessary resources for a happy, healthy family including education, income support and family building.

This five-unit complex will home five new or expectant mothers to be able to keep their families. Another plus is that one of the units is fully accessible. This way, any family is able to use one of these units.

This location has an interesting history. Many remember the property as a Salvation Army Thrift Store. It was then four different apartments. But they were build at four. separate. times. The state of the property required a full demo by Impact. These units have been rebuilt from the foundation up. Next necessary foundation repairs were conducting using new ICF technologies. ICF (Isolated Concrete Form) are premade forms that are another way to do foundation. The pieces fit together like a puzzle using plastic framework and are then filled with concrete. It has all the same benefits as “regular” insulation. Framing as also begun and the structure now has four walls!

This project exposes the youth to a variety of trades useful in competitive employment. From carpentry, to plumbing to electrical, these youths are getting it all. A project like this ultimately builds their resumes and makes them competitive candidates in “real world” jobs. It also allows for them to see the process of building a home from start to finish. It also provides a huge sense of pride for the youth working on the project. The youth working on this project are helping other youth just like them.

For Momma Moments, this project provides another avenue of support for the young women in this program. It is a direct correlation with one of their key operations being housing. Knowing that Choices For Youth is able to provide affordable housing for young families that is supportive, flexible and meets their unique needs. It is a wonderful addition to the housing options that Choices offers and can provide more stability for young families.