Butler branch of Isaiah 117 House works to fix up property
The group working to bring a branch of Isaiah 117 House to Butler recently closed on a house, which is intended to become a harbor for area foster children, but the work to prepare the space is far from over.
Before the nonprofit can open its doors and provide children in the foster care system a comfortable place to stay while they wait for placement with a foster family, the house needs some work — the interior remodeled, the exterior painted white and the front door painted red.
“All Isaiah Houses are white with red doors, so we have to paint the whole exterior of the house white, which is an undertaking,” said Abbey Walsh, location leader for Butler Isaiah 117 House.
Inside, work will be done to remodel the kitchen, replace the flooring and update the bathrooms, among other projects that will make the space more fit for its new purpose and ready to welcome children as early as this summer.
“We are cutting the hole in the wall to have a line of sight for children,” she said. “We need it to be a little more open.”
Isaiah 117 House — named for a verse in the Bible — started in Tennessee in 2017, and expansion coordinators like Walsh have since helped open houses and bring its ideas to cities across the country.
Walsh took on the role last year. She started raising money and awareness for the project before closing on the house March 18, which is within Butler County’s borders. Its location will not be shared with the public to protect its future occupants.
She explained that Isaiah 117 Houses must have a location and the budget for their first years raised before they can start taking clients. The organization is on its way to its first year’s budget, having raised about $180,000 by mid-February with the help of the community.
Walsh said the upgrades to the house are being made mainly by volunteers, but there may have to be some hired laborers to finish the job.
“The next step is to get contractors to donate their time; get this project done as quickly and low cost as possible,” Walsh said. “We’re working toward building this first year's budget, but we'll have to tap into the budget, if work on the house isn’t donated.”
According to Charles Johns, executive director at Butler County Children & Youth Services, there are 125 children in out-of-home placement, which includes foster homes, kinship care homes or congregate care placements like group homes. Johns said there are typically about 110 children in the CYS system, so the current number is higher than usual.
Johns also said the Isaiah group is the first of its kind in the region, and possibly the state. Once it is active, CYS workers can contact the Isaiah House staff if the office has a child in need of a place to stay.
“This is an original concept for us, and I believe, it’s the first effort in Pennsylvania to have an alternate arrangement of children in foster placement,” he said. “It’s a very genuine effort to help kids. It’s great to have people like Abbey doing things like this.”
Walsh said organizers are getting the house furnished and set up to be a base for herself and two part-time employees to work out of throughout the year.
“The purpose is when the child goes into foster care, they go to the house instead of (Children and Youth Services) office,” Walsh said. “Once the house is open, they'll have a bed to sleep in instead of staying in the office.”
Walsh said there will continue to be work days for the house, and people can get involved by emailing butlerpa@isaiah117house.com. The organization also hosts expansion meetings from 7 to 8 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month at Community Alliance Church.
