Huschka House provides stability, resources to young adults

Members of the community helped celebrate Hushka House's five-year anniversary on Saturday by taking a tour of the two transitional houses the organization provides for young adults. Donna Cherry, executive director of Huschka House, recently retired from East Tennessee State University as a social work professor with a focus on foster care and child welfare. She started the nonprofit organization with Jennifer Garvin, a social worker with Youth Village's Lifeset program, to help young adults coming out of the foster care system or who are struggling to transition to adulthood. Cherry said the two identified a gap in the community where young adults who are put into situations of being unhoused have no resources to help them take the next step in life. "They're homeless on the street, drugs, prostitution, delinquency and then they're just going to be back in another institution if we don't do something," she said. The organization provides housing to individuals between the ages of 18 and 23 for $10 a day, or $300 a month. Cherry said they can house eight young adults at a time at Huschka House's two homes — one for women and one for men. "This is a transition period to get you towards stability and independence," she said. All residents are required to have a job and are supported by the nonprofit through other resources such as transportation and ultimately, support with the help of volunteers in the community. "You just need somebody to listen to what you've been through and somebody who just cares that you've been through a lot and you deserve a chance," Cherry said. "You don't have to be defined by your past." One of the focuses of the organization is to help the residents navigate the transition into adulthood. "They have the responsibilities of young adulthood with such a deficit of skills and maturity to go with it," Cherry said. Each resident is provided resources based on their needs, trauma and knowledge, or lack of, on how to be self-sufficient. Huschka House has served 33 young adults within its first five years of operation. Cherry said in the next five years, she hopes the organization can expand its reach, build more houses and gain more community support. To learn more about Huschka House, volunteer or apply for housing visit the nonprofit's website at huschkahouse.org.