A baby, child, or teen is removed from their parents' home due to unsafe conditions and is placed in the care of DSS. What happens next? In the past, many children are waiting on foster family placement for hours to days and often spend limbo in a social worker's office or conference room. 

In 2017, Foster parent Rhonda Paulon started the first Isaiah 117 home in Tennessee to receive such children temporarily and provide basic minimal needs through this tumultuous and often traumatic moment in these childrens' lives. Named after Bible verse Isaiah 1:17, which states, " defend the cause of the fatherless," the organization has since expanded to 57 locations across 12 states, offering a secure and loving environment during a critical transition period.

The most difficult part of the process is getting state approval from DSS to get the homes approved for use, so when one state gets approval the organization works to grow in that particular state. Isaiah 117 house was recently approved in South Carolina and has begun work on several locations, including groundbreakings in York and Greenville County.

Enchanted Homes is a proud partner of Isaiah 117 and has jumped in to help the recent groundbreaking and construction of the Greenville county home. Enchanted Homes was honored to offer development work including clearing and grading of the land. Our subsidiary, Capital Waste, is providing dumpsters and takeaway throughout construction, and finally, Enchanted Homes will cover plumbing on the home. 

The Greenville County location is the 47th Home Groundbreaking and there are currently 30 homes completed throughout the country. The organization has recently begun a 7th-year Sabbath where no new homes will be begun in 2025 so focus can be on completing in-construction homes, optimizing operation, and ensuring the focus is on God.

At the time of the Greenville County groundbreaking, 9 children were in limbo and waiting on placement in the county. Aaron Aho (third from right), President of Enchanted Homes, and Ryan Crooker (Second from right), Vice President of Enchanted Homes, participated in the Greenville County groundbreaking on December 12, 2024. 

We strongly encourage our employees, Upstate friends, and homeowners to learn more and volunteer with the home. For more information on how you can get involved and help this noble cause, check out: https://linktr.ee/isaiah117housegreenvillesc.

You can also follow the home on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/isaiah117housegreenvillecountysc/ to learn more about volunteer or donation opportunities and to follow the home progress.