New Light at Daybreak


Teenage years are hard enough for anybody – now imagine living through these years on the streets. For ten youth at a time, ages 16 to 21, StarVista’s Daybreak house offers a roof over their head, supportive services, and independent living skills training. Unfortunately, the Daybreak house had some issues, and HIF wanted to help ensure that it remained a safe haven for the youth.

The house desperately needed electrical and plumbing repairs and new drain pipes. The bathrooms had become grimy from years of use, the carpet needed to be ripped out, and the living room was dark and cramped, with worn, over-sized furniture and a heavy, outdated storage unit. In order for StarVista to continue to focus its resources on providing these wonderful youth services, HIF stepped in to tackle our biggest renovation project of the year.

The project was so expansive that the youth were actually moved out of the house for two weeks while the repairs took place! HIF rallied a strong team for the large job – Project Captain Freestone Reconstruction and Corporate Champion Wells Fargo along with A Plus Tree, All Seasons Roofing, APD Appliance, ATI Restoration, B. Taylor Painting, Fashion Furniture Rental, Golden Shark Construction, HD Supply, IBI, J&K Electrical, Kelly Moore Paint, Signature Carpet One, and Tuff Shed.

Together, we transformed nearly the entire house. New laminate flooring was installed, all youth bathrooms were entirely gutted and remodeled, and a new built-in and furniture brightened up the living room (literally – we found a hidden window behind the old storage cabinet!)

After: living room with new furniture, flooring, built-in storage unit, and TV. Photo by Daniel Gaines Photography.

When the youth returned the next day, they were overwhelmed with happiness.  An employee at StarVista remarked:

They are incredibly moved and grateful that their community cares so much about them.