Merry Street neighbors say Augusta tiny homes are a ‘wonderful project’
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Augusta commissioners approved a tiny home community for young adults aging out of the foster care system on Tuesday.
The new neighborhood will have 25 homes together at the current Merry Street Park while providing resources for kids.
We checked in with some neighbors on what they think of the project.
Neighbors in the area say this is something that’s needed in our area and they hope more cities will offer opportunities like this.
The project aims to help teens transition out of the foster care system to life on their own.
“They’ve got to have opportunity. They really do have to have the opportunity. And that’s what’s lacking usually just not opportunity, and this is a great big one,” said Donna Hastings.
Hastings lives across the street from the park and thinks this project will be great for the area.
“It’s getting people ready to be on their own. And I think it’s a wonderful project, the park. I’ve only been here since July, but it is underutilized. It’s a great space. And I think the people that use it, enjoy it, but it’s very much underutilized,” she said.
She says the neighborhood has a lot to offer and is within walking distance of jobs, transportation and schools.
“I told them, I’d be a foster grandparent,” said Hastings.
Right down the street is Erica’s Boutique, who also thinks this will be a good thing.
“It’s a really amazing thing. Because many young kids get put out, they get thrown out of the system. And a lot of them turn to the street. So that’s not a place that we want our children to wind up to be,” said Erica Ishman, owner of Erica’s Boutique.
Neighbors say they’re even willing to offer opportunities of their own.
Hastings said: “There’s probably all kinds of programs that people in the community could get involved with. I imagine some of them could be looking for jobs. I’m always looking for a little help in the yard, and those kinds of things. So, I just think it’s a good match.”
Officials say they expect to break ground on this project before the end of the year.
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