Buffalo, NY - November
28, 2004 - To address the second highest rate of teen pregnancy in New York
State,
the
non-profit
Homespace
Corporation
is breaking ground at 10 a.m. on Friday, December 3 for its second
transitional group residence for young mothers.
Second Chance Home
will build on the experience of Homespace, which currently operates
12 town houses for 18-25 year old single mothers. With the Second
Chance Home at 1171 Michigan Avenue, Homespace Corporation will
now serve eight teenage mothers who are between the ages of 14 and
17.
Welfare regulations now require that teenage mothers must remain
at home with their parents or reside in an adult supervised setting.
The mothers are expected to meet the social and personal obligations
required for welfare support. In return, at the Second Chance Home,
they have a chance to succeed by getting nurturing and emotional
support, structure and socialization. While they complete their education
and learn independent living skills, they are allowed to stay at
the Second Chance Home until they become 18 years old. The facility
is scheduled for completion in spring 2005. Construction is fully
funded by New York Bureau of Housing and Homeless Assistance, as
well as two restricted grants from United Parcel Service and a federal
home loan grant through First Niagara Bank.
Thelma Roberts, executive director of Homespace, stated, “It
seems as though we’ve waited a long time for completion of
this Second Chance Home. It is licensed by New York State as a mother/baby
foster group residence but to us it’s more than that. It’s
a rare opportunity to bring together fundamental elements needed
if teen mothers are to succeed.
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