Read the full article by Chris Nichols at CapRadio
Toriana Thompson won’t be at The Grove’s emergency homeless shelter much longer. The 23-year-old, who spent much of the past year living in motels and then in her car, is due to give birth to her baby girl in a few weeks, and will then move into her own apartment.
But for the other unhoused young adults at the shelter and those who arrive in coming months or years, Thompson says she’s excited about a new initiative to spruce up the 50 shed-sized cabins at the North Sacramento shelter.
The nonprofit First Step Communities launched an “Adopt a Cabin” program this week, offering donors the chance to fund repairs, maintenance, landscaping and new community porches at the Grove, which opened three years ago and serves people ages 18 to 24.
Organizers hope the effort will make the sparse wooden cabins feel more like home.
“There’s a lot of kids here who don’t have anything,” said Thompson, speaking inside her cabin No. 6, which includes a bed, air-conditioner and storage tubs.
“They’re not used to having something like this,” she added. “I’m sure adding to that lets them know there’s more to life. There’s a lot to look forward to.”
First Step Communities opened The Grove with the goal of helping unhoused youth find stability. It offers services including meals, case management, mental health counseling and housing connections.