Buffalo, NY - September
30, 2005 - Homespace Corporation announced the grand
opening of Second Chance Home at 11:00 am today, at 1171 Michigan
Avenue in Buffalo, NY. The new foster group home will serve very
young, homeless teenage mothers and their children.
Homespace Corporation is a not-for-profit corporation that opened
its doors in 1994 to serve homeless, young adults, ages 18 to 25
years old, with 1 to 3 small children up to six-years-old. Over the
years, Homespace administrators recognized the need for a facility
to house even younger homeless parents who had few options for shelter
and supportive services. With help from $901,850 in funding from
New York State’s Homeless Housing and Assistance Program (HHAP),
$52,150 in funding from the federal government via the HOME Grant
Program of Erie County, and a $100,000 grant from United Parcel Service
(UPS), they were able to help build Second Chance Home to help meet
this need.
"Opening Second Chance Home is the fulfillment of our dream
to establish a mother/baby foster care residence that would provide
younger teenage single mothers the same help, guidance and support
that is offered at Homespace, but in a more controlled, foster care
environment," said Mindy Marranca, president of Homespace’s
Board of Directors.
The congregate-style, transitional dwelling will
serve eight pregnant or parenting teens, ranging in age from 14-17
years, who are wards of New York State and receive services from
Erie County, and their children. Many of the applicants have a history
of living in emergency shelters, substandard and over-crowded housing
or lack of a permanent address. They have lived in environments that
are highly dangerous to themselves and their children and are most
often in abusive relationships.
The teen mothers will have access to a variety of services in their
new haven where they will learn to care for their children and prepare
for their future. Staffers at Second Chance Home will encourage continuing
education and offer nurturing and support, structure and discipline,
as well as socialization skills to help the teen mothers become better
parents and successfully reunite with their families, if appropriate.
By providing a positive family environment, these young parents
will have the opportunity to complete their education and become
good parents. Because staff members and volunteers provide the support
that they need, teen mothers are better able to establish emotional
and family bonds with their child(ren) as they have role models apart
from their own troubled families.
"Second Chance Home will make a lasting positive impact in
the lives of these young mothers and their children," commented
Thelma Roberts, executive director of Homespace. "Not only
will we be helping the mothers to achieve their goals, but will be
influencing how their children view the world." |
