$100,000 Lowe's grant helps build Georgia tiny home community for youth leaving foster care

A new tiny home community in Augusta, Georgia, is getting a major boost from Lowe's, which could aid a vulnerable group in a difficult transition period.

As WRDW reported, the support comes through a $100,000 community impact grant, which will help advance housing for young people aging out of foster care while also paying for shared areas designed to reduce isolation.

Here's what to know

The development is Augusta's first tiny home community for young adults leaving foster care at 18 without family support or housing. The station said it is being led by the local nonprofit Bridge Builder Communities. Part of the Lowe's funding is earmarked for outdoor gathering spaces for residents.

Jackson Drumgoole, founder and CEO of Bridge Builder Communities, said the communal areas are a key part of what residents will find on site. 

"Each pod has a different theme," Drumgoole explained to WRDW. "One theme with a fire pit theme, an outdoor cooking space, a serenity garden and an outdoor gaming space."

Bridge Builder Communities was selected as one of 100 nonprofits across the country to receive support through the Lowe's program, the station noted. The organization expects to hold a ribbon-cutting in October.

More background

Tiny home communities have drawn growing interest as cities and nonprofits look for faster, lower-cost ways to expand housing access.

While they are not a universal solution, they can offer a practical option for private living space while using less land. The project is specifically designed for young adults aging out of foster care. 

For a group that might not have the means to afford more expensive living situations or higher education, the grant can help create spaces that add community to their new homes.

What's being done?

In addition to covering the outdoor features, the grant comes with hands-on help. Lowe's employees are also expected to volunteer during construction, according to WRDW.

"This is what we do," store manager QuaCheryl Pugh told the station. "It's in Lowe's DNA to come out and help the community, do what we can in the community, lend a helping hand."

For Drumgoole, the collaboration is a meaningful milestone for the development. 

"It's phenomenal to have Lowe's as a true community partner in helping us fulfill some of these goals on site," Drumgoole said, per WRDW.

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