Kavanah

KAVANAH is a 501(c)(3) public charity organization.

One of the things we do at Kavanah is buy, renovate, and sell homes. Through the renovation process, we’ve created a workforce development program which enables us to work with unemployed Veterans, teach them a trade, and successfully launch them in to small business owners. One of these Veterans operates a demolition business where he now empowers young adults with special needs. Another Veteran was living outdoors in a tent near a creek in North Sacramento. After moving in to a Tiny House built by the students at Luther Burbank High School, we have been able to keep him working full time as he moves toward building and growing his own construction company. He has gone from homeless, having an EBT card, and relying daily on food banks, to working, obtaining his drivers license, purchasing a vehicle, opening up a bank account, and hosting BBQ’s with his neighbors!

We are also busy investing in the next generation. In the Greater Sacramento Region, there are several high schools, many charter schools, and two community colleges who have implemented the Kavanah Tiny House Program. What does that mean? Well, it means the youth and young adults are learning how to build a raised foundation, how to frame, how to build a roof, how to insulate, hang drywall, tape texture and paint. They are learning how to wire electrical, how to hang windows and frame doors. The youth and young adults are learning solar energy, cabinet installation, and finish work. The youth and young adults are learning valuable trades and employable skills while literally building solutions for our homeless population. These Tiny Houses are then delivered to our business and ministry partners in the community to provide security, shelter, and rest for those in need. These Tiny Houses built by the youth have been described as “a warm hug”, “refuge”, and “better than I could have imagined”, by some of the residents.

After building the Kavanah Tiny House, three students enrolled and are excelling in Construction Technology Courses at Cosumnes River College. We are so proud of their hard work and commitment to invest in their own futures! With our help, several others have found full time employment with our industry partners in the construction trades. We are equally proud of these young adults who after building a Tiny House, decided to enter a field with limitless opportunities for growth!

It is also a goal of ours to provide affordable housing solutions to non-profits, ministries, businesses, government agencies, etc., who are working with Veterans, sexually exploited, emancipated or at-risk youth, those with special needs, the elderly, and/or people striving to regain the basic necessities of life in order to restore hope in themselves and their future. This is why in 2016, we purchased our first home used to do just this! This home is called Destiny Center, and it is run by one of our ministry partners, Flame of Fire Ministry. This home has provided a safe place for men who are seeking to break the chains of drug or alcohol addiction, and find their purpose. In February of 2017, we purchased a second home dedicated to serve youth in need of affordable housing. We do housing very well, and we know when to invite our community partners in to do what they do well, so that TOGETHER, we can do more.

Our Tiny House Program is quickly growing, as we receive calls from schools weekly asking to partner with us. Because we want the opportunity to be available to every young person interested in a career in construction, there is a great need to provide the schools with the materials needed to build a Tiny House. We are seeking corporations and individuals to financially support this program by clicking the donate button on our page, or contacting us directly. We are also seeking construction industry partners looking to fill open labor positions with the skilled youth. We are seeking industry partners who would like to come and speak with the youth about the many opportunities available in construction. We are seeking locations to place a finished Tiny House. Initially, these houses have been placed on church campuses where the resident can be welcomed in to a community, as well as volunteer his or her services. We are seeking homes to purchase as we grow our workforce development to not only train our Veterans, but also our youth. And we are seeking the support of our community. The support of our community means the world to us, but more importantly it means the world to those we serve! Simply liking our page shows the youth, our Veterans, et al., they have MANY cheering them on to a bright future. And when we post something that tugs at your heart, makes you jump for joy, or you think is just plain cool, we invite you to “react” to the post. We know our youth, Veterans, and colleagues are watching, and they love being recognized for their good work.

KAVANAH: Intention, or "direction of the heart"