Poverty is the most pressing societal issue of our day, and it can be inherited, leaving women and children particularly vulnerable. In Tarrant County, more than 92,000 women and children live in poverty. Often, they are a single financial crisis away from spiraling into homelessness.
Unfortunately, more than 15,000 children and their parents – primarily single mothers –will experience homelessness in Tarrant County this year.
Stagnant wages and rising housing costs further compound the problem. In 2019, 30% of single mothers in Tarrant County were experiencing poverty with an annual household income of only $33,309.
Our community impact has been constrained by the current,1920s-era facility in downtown Fort Worth.
It is time for Center for Transforming Lives to move on from its existing building and into a new home that will allow our programs to grow – and more Tarrant County families to thrive.
To address the growing need for our services, we are relocating to a new, larger and more accessible location on South Riverside Drive. This new location includes a 1950s-era, all-concrete building that will be completely renovated. Renovations will include the creation of an interior landscaped meditation garden, introducing nature and light into the building. The new location will include:
The Riverside Campus in southeast Fort Worth is ideally situated in 76119, where the median household income is $39,129. Center for Transforming Lives will be positioned at the crossroads of East Berry Street and South Riverside Drive near the Morningside and Glen Crest neighborhoods. The Riverside Campus is also located next to a bus stop and four-line bus transfer station, making the campus far more accessible for clients experiencing transportation barriers. Poised for growth, the surrounding community is undergoing revitalization. By repurposing an abandoned facility, the new Center for Transforming Lives campus will provide a further catalyst for economic improvement in the area.
Situated on approximately 14 acres of land, the new Center for Transforming Lives campus will be graded and landscaped into an urban park setting. The landscape design will allow children, parents, clients and staff to enjoy the outdoors and reap mental and physical health benefits. The landscape will also allow teachers to deliver lessons outdoors, encouraging children to connect with nature, utilizing all five senses and improving physical fitness.
