Augusta Tiny Home Community Opens Next Month to Support Foster Youth

Bridge Builder Communities will host a grand opening on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 11 a.m. The site at 1140 Merry Street marks Augusta's first tiny home community built for young adults who age out of foster care. Dr. Jackson Drumgoole and his wife, ShDonna Drumgoole, spent 40 years making this happen.

The site pairs housing with education, job training, life-skills coaching, and counseling. Young adults leaving foster care will get structured help as they shift to living on their own.

"Oct. 14 isn't the finish line. It's the moment 40 years of hard work starts turning into something that'll last for generations," said Jackson, per Augusta CEO. "Small buildings. Big purpose."

Jackson served in the Army. He's a father, teacher, mentor, and advocate for his community. ShDonna credits faith for pushing them through four decades of effort. "For me, it means knowing 100 percent, without a doubt, that God told us to do this all those years ago, because there is no way we could have done it on our own," ShDonna said.

The Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce will cut the ribbon. Representatives from the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, North Augusta Chamber of Commerce and Greater Augusta Black Chamber of Commerce will attend.

Guests can tour the site after the ribbon cutting. The event will honor those who gave money, time, labor, and support to finish the project. Media can interview founders and leaders, tour the grounds, and take photographs.

The celebration goes by the name "Welcome Home." That title represents what residents will find here: stability, dignity, a place to belong, and a chance to succeed. The ceremony takes place at 1140 Merry Street in Augusta, GA 30904.