UPPER DARBY TWP., Pa. (WPVI) — The need for housing for teens in foster care is great. One local woman saw not just to meet that need, but to exceed it, by offering a bit of luxury to youth who have been through a lot.
From the fluffy pillows to the chandeliers and the golden fixtures, it has all the makings of a luxury hotel, but it’s not.
Instead, it’s a shelter.
“We service all 67 counties in Pennsylvania,” said Marie Minor, founder and CEO of Cater 2 You Youth Haven and Emergency Residential Care Facility in Upper Darby Township.
The newly opened facility, which will begin intake of residents soon, is the lifelong dream of Marie Minor.
The former foster parent wanted to provide something special for girls who have gone through the court system and are in foster care.
“The concept of the design is when you walk through the door, kids will not feel like they’re walking into a shelter,” said Minor.
The emergency care facility can house 11 girls ages 13 to 21, focusing on self-care in ways that most shelters typically don’t.
The facility has what they call “self-care suites” which feature a multipurpose room, which can be used for activities like yoga as well as a room housing a hair salon and one with a nail salon.
“Our director is a licensed cosmetologist,” said Minor.
Going beyond beauty, the idea is to restore dignity.
“Hopefully they feel loved,” said Minor. “Hopefully, they feel good to want to come here and want to stay.”
Children are referred to the facility through social services or county youth services. Those contracts fund the operation.
When it comes to funds for the one-year construction project to make over and decorate the building, Minor handled that herself.
“Fully funded out of pocket, (out of) my savings,” she said. “(It’s) my passion. It was a vision. And every day I just tackled my vision.”
With a maximum six-month stay, Cater 2 You also seeks to connect girls to resources for long-term housing and care.
“We’ll be hopefully having potential foster parents or anyone who is interested in becoming a foster parents to come here,” Minor said.
Minor hopes the special treatment girls get at her facility is something they internalize so they know they’re worth the luxury no matter their circumstances.
“I hope they leave here and achieve all their goals in life,” she said, “to know that someone took their time to invest in them and people out here do care.”
Minor hopes to open three more Cater 2 You centers in the Philadelphia area within the next year. For more information: https://cater2youyouthhaven.org/
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