Aspen Cottage Renovation
The Class of 2024 elected to do a full renovation of the Children’s Home of Stockton’s Catalyst Program’s Aspen Cottage. The Catalyst program is a homeless youth prevention program that serves transition aged youth, or TAY.
Launched in 2021 with an emphasis on life skills, career exploration, education, and mental health counseling, the program serves youth between the ages of 18 to 24, many of whom have emancipated from the foster care system and are at risk of homelessness, are vulnerable to gangs, trafficking, and poverty. This life-saving program has had a wait list since inception. The program provides transitional housing and support services for TAY in an effort to mitigate Stockton’s youth homelessness crisis while supporting the recommendations of a recent Grand Jury Report. Once renovated, the Aspen Cottage will enable CHS to serve 33% more young adults who might otherwise be vulnerable to trafficking, gang involvement, or poverty.
Our efforts took place in a series of phases:
Phase 1 – Fundraising
Phase 2 – Demolition and trash day
Phase 3 – Patching and painting
Phase 4 – Flooring (restoration and brand new carpets)
Phase 5 – Appliances (brand new kitchen appliances, washer and dryer)
Phase 6 – Home Necessities (brand new house lighting, newly upgraded bathroom vanities & shower doors, newly upgraded bedroom furniture, living room/house furniture)
Phase 7 – Deep cleaning contractors
Phase 8 – Making it feel like a home.
The Class celebrated the completion with a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house on June 3, 2024.
