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.<\/p>\n
From the fluffy pillows to the chandeliers and the golden fixtures, it has all the makings of a luxury hotel, but it’s not.<\/p>\n
Instead, it’s a shelter.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
The newly opened facility, which will begin intake of residents soon, is the lifelong dream of Marie Minor.<\/p>\n
The former foster parent wanted to provide something special for girls who have gone through the court system and are in foster care.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
The emergency care facility can house 11 girls ages 13 to 21, focusing on self-care in ways that most shelters typically don’t.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“Our director is a licensed cosmetologist,” said Minor.<\/p>\n
Going beyond beauty, the idea is to restore dignity.<\/p>\n
“Hopefully they feel loved,” said Minor. “Hopefully, they feel good to want to come here and want to stay.”<\/p>\n
Children are referred to the facility through social services or county youth services. Those contracts fund the operation.<\/p>\n
When it comes to funds for the one-year construction project to make over and decorate the building, Minor handled that herself.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
With a maximum six-month stay, Cater 2 You also seeks to connect girls to resources for long-term housing and care.<\/p>\n
“We’ll be hopefully having potential foster parents or anyone who is interested in becoming a foster parents to come here,” Minor said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n