LAWTON – The Might Community Development and Resource Center and Sanctuary 212 are starting construction on a building that will give homeless students a place to live.
The two organizations broke ground May 2 on the McMahon S212 Guest House, located on the Might campus at 714 SW 45th St. in Lawton. The construction management firm CDBL Inc. is converting the existing gym on Might’s campus into housing for 12 homeless boys.
The home was the vision of S212 founder Spencer Brown, who launched the organization while he was in high school, Brown said in a May 4 email to a Southwest Ledger reporter. S212 is now under Might’s umbrella.
“I raised about $50,000 on my own through the Classic Chevy Golf Tournament and grassroots efforts,” he said. “The end goal was to always start a homeless-teen home to provide these kids a place to call home.”
Brown said recent data suggests that more than 1,100 students attending Lawton schools are considered homeless.
Helping homeless students Brown said he met Might’s CEO, Bernita Taylor, about a year ago, and learned that her organization was also interested in helping homeless students. That meeting led to a partnership between Might and the S212 Project.
Over the past year, the two organizations hosted their first Summer Night fundraiser, which generated more than $60,000 for the cause. The organizations also received an anonymous donation for $50,000.
Last month, the organizations accepted a $550,000 grant from the McMahon Foundation for remodeling the gym on the Might campus.
Construction was set to begin Monday, and the project may be open for business by Sept. 1.
When it is finished, the home will have two bedrooms outfitted with three bunk beds each. Other features include a living room with two television sets, a kitchen with a family-sized dining table, and a washer and dryer.
“Basically, everything they might need to call it a home!” Brown said.