By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
A new house has been built on Gene Field Road to provide housing to youth going through Pivotal Points transitional housing youth program.
Ground was broken on the project in September after Pivotal Point raised money for two years.
Executive Director Melissa Frakes says while there are some differences between the youth and adult programs at Pivotal Point, there are also some similarities.
"They're still working, even though it's part time, and they're going to school and once they finish their education, we're going to talk about what a long-term career would look like, or college or skills training, whatever that would look like," Frakes tells host of the KFEQ Hotline Barry Birr.
Frakes says youth at the house will learn many life skills, including driving which many of them may not know how to do.
The new youth transitional housing building has been built to accommodate youth going through Pivotal Points 12-to-24-month long program.
Director of Housing Lisa Robinson says the youth program is longer because there are a lot more things to focus on with the youth.
"One, finishing high school or high set for sure, the license, getting a skill set whether that's going into a career path or learning a skill or a trade, or going into college," Robinson explains.
Robinson says while living in the house though there are some expectations the youth are given.
"We hold them accountable; we expect them to take on more responsibility as they are with us longer, they earn more privileges the longer they're with us and so we have kind of a level system," Robinson says.
Robinson says many of the life skills that youth are taught are things that most of us might take for granted.
"Even just like cooking, budgeting, learning how to take care of your vehicle, laundry, cleaning, cleaning is not the same to everyone, and just figuring out how to teach that to them well and to encourage them and teach them why it's important," Robinson points out. "All of those things."
A grand opening and ribbon cutting for the new house at 4920 Gene Field Road will be held on Tuesday at 1pm.
