NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A Davidson County house just opened its doors for children to temporarily call it home.
The Isaiah 1:17 House is the first in the county and provides additional resources for foster children, workers with the Tennessee Department of Children's Services (DCS) and foster families.
"This isn't just a house or a building," lead pastor for Downtown Nashville Church of the City, Matt Smallbone, said. "It's a refuge."
A December 2022 audit revealed that more than 200 children in Tennessee's DCS custody were sleeping on office floors due to a severe bed shortage within the department.
"What if there was a home that, instead of going to the office, they could come to a home?" Corey Paulson, Founder and Development Director of Isaiah 1:17 House, said.
Founders with the Isaiah 1:17 House saw a need for temporary housing in Davidson County and began spreading throughout the country. On Wednesday, they opened their first location in Davidson County.
"We want to give them the room to just be them," Jessica Biggs, Davidson County Location Leader for Isaiah 1:17 House, explained.
In 2023, DCS reported more than 925 young people in foster care in Davidson County alone.
"You wouldn't believe what is happening in your community because if a kid is getting removed from a situation, it is bad," Paulson said.
There are 74 DCS foster homes with at least one vacancy and 91 contract foster homes with at least one vacancy. The Isaiah 1:17 House has been added to that count. The two bedrooms and playground outside will offer foster children places to heal from trauma.
"It is all about intentionality," Paulson said. "From the colors on the walls to the style of the furniture to the pops of color to the encouraging messages on the artwork — [it's] all extremely intentional: to send that message to kids. Listen, this is for you."
Kids will be greeted with new clothes, shoes, toys, a backpack, and a blanket — things they get to call their own.
"A tag on a new piece of clothing given to a child is literally life-changing for kids," Paulson added. "We have seen it over and over again because, many times, these kids have never had anything new. They've never had anything of their own."
The house will also create a space for DCS workers to work and foster families to transition more easily. The Davidson County location leader told News 2 their first guests will arrive Thursday morning.