LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A new facility is looking to change the lives of single parent families through faith. A $7 million dollar project by New Life Directions Ministries is coming to Valley Station next year.
The ministry's Single Parent Training Center is partially funded by the Louisville Affordable Housing Trust Fund and will offer a fresh start. The facility is located off of Dixie Highway and is not open to the public yet, but the executive director and founder of the ministry Tena McNair gave WHAS11 News a tour.
The building is still mostly foundation and studs with exterior panels placed on the outside. McNair pointed out that a child development center that can host up to 58 kids will also be a part of the facility.
Multiple biblical verses were written on several studs. McNair said it's her ministry's way of blessing the building, and their goal is to offer a temporary home to single parent families while also offering guidance so they can eventually purchase their own.
It's a program single mother Christina Amato personally knows after losing her children and going to rehab for substance abuse.
"Ever since then they've worked with me, they provided me with encouragement and support because I thought I was alone during this whole process," Amato said. "They've showed me that God's with me, I'm not alone and that I can do this."
The original building used to be a motel the ministry previously would house women and children. Through fundraising they were able to purchase the motel and construct a second floor and expand the campus to fit 20 apartment for single women with children to live in. It comes with the requirement that parents becomes educated in personal finances, basic automobile maintenance and follow their faith-based mentorship program. New Life Directions Ministries' goal is to ensure a parent can eventually purchase their own home where they can continue to raise their children.
"So it's been awesome how people just heard about what we do, and the fact that we're a training center and not just another apartment complex for low income housing and all that kind of stuff," McNair said. "But we're really training them up to be self sufficient not just stay here forever stuck."
Amato currently works with the ministry and will help parents who are currently going through what she did.
"Yes I'm going to be a part of this and I'm super excited to be a part of this," Amato said. "From what it was before to what it is now. It's just a wonderful opportunity for these moms to become successful and grow in the Lord."
The ministry said it hopes to start offering services once the building is completed in January, and it's still raising funds to help offer their services to those in need. If you'd like to help them reach their $9 million goal click here to learn more.
If you would like to donate to the ministry, you can do so here.
► Contact reporter Jose Alonzo at jalonzo@whas11.com or on Twitter.
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