The Empowerment Academy (EA), a long-term housing facility that will provide shelter and life skills training to homeless high school students, is essentially move-in ready after a $500,000 grant allowed them to complete construction. However, EA leadership wants to ensure sustainability and is focused on raising money for at least three years of operational expenses before opening.
Earlier this year, the EA Board received a $500,000 grant from the Joseph W. Craft III Foundation. Half of the funds helped complete the construction of the facility, including installing state-of-the-art security, while the other half was earmarked to provide $50,000 per year for five years for operations.
The grant also allowed EA to install a state-of-the-art security system in the house, according to EA spokesperson Trooper Corey King.
“Every door has its own, key fob to lock in and out of. (Leadership) can also do it remotely from our phones, from our computers. Safety is our top priority, and that’s why we invested in such a system,” King said.
King said the final push now is to raise enough funds to make the program sustainable.
“As a board, when we started this, we decided we wanted three years of operational costs in the purse before we open the doors to ensure its sustainability and success,” he said. “We have probably a year in the budget now. That’s why we’re hosting an Open House, to generate the next two years of operational costs, and we’ll be ready to open the door.”
The EA is holding an Open House from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Giving Tuesday (December 3) at the facility, located at 1606 Ohio Street. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and dinner from 4 to 6 p.m., available for purchase via donation rather than a set price. King said that’s to allow attendees to contribute whatever they can.
King said the board is hopeful to raise the remaining funds by Spring 2025, adding they’d be able to open sooner if money is raised quickly.
The Empowerment Academy will have 18 bedrooms, six bathrooms, a teaching and learning kitchen, laundry rooms, a dining area, and library and study areas.
The facility will be staffed 24/7, including a house parent who lives in a suite on site. King said guests will come in with various areas of expertise to teach the students life skills from how to balance a checkbook to properly cooking meals to how to apply for work.
The academy partners with local school districts to identify students who may not have access to a stable and safe place to live. The academy will work with guidance counselors to transition students into the monitored living facility.
King said EA “continuously gets calls from the schools” about students who could benefit from the academy, so the board is eager to open their doors. He said he thinks they could reach capacity within a year due to the number of students needing help.
Whenever an individual is accepted into the program, the EA team of professionals will help the student find their passions and make plans for their bright future, according to the organization’s website.
“Our long-term care extends beyond the classroom,” the website says. ‘Our ultimate goal is to set our students up with the tools they need to succeed on their journey whether that be furthering their education or preparing them to enter the workforce.”
Numerous individuals and organizations have made contributions to the academy, whether it be through financial gifts, sponsorships, providing furniture, or even donating time and supplies. The Empowerment Academy also utilized an Adopt-A-Room capital campaign, allowing individuals and organizations to sponsor any of the approximately 30 rooms in the facility.
Learn more about the academy or donate at empowermentacademy.us.
