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Texas teen buys home to help families in crises

Texas teen buys a house for families in crisis 02:00

Most 16-year-olds aren't investing in their first property, especially if it's not for them. But a Texas teen is doing just that - renovating a house she bought for people to live in during family crises.

Kelsy Mauer, from Kirbyville, Tx., has big plans for the $2,000 house.

"Sometimes people have had enough, they get frustrated, they get stressed out, they have things going on at work that they might, you know, worry about," Mauer said. "So little things just keep on stacking up and stacking up and in a few cases, it just gets into where it can be a dangerous situation for somebody."

It's this belief that is driving Mauer, with the help of family and friends, to turn the property into a free temporary shelter for families going through problems.

Mauer, who created the nonprofit organization 'A Friend's Place,' about two years ago, says the house still needs major renovations, including tearing down a wall and putting on a roof, but hopes to have it finished within six months.

"The community needs something like this and I hear a lot of people tell me that you know, it's going to be hard. But I think I can do it. It's going to be worth it because it will help a whole lot of people," said Mauer.

And Mauer, who would like to become a family marriage counselor,  is not stopping at one home; she hopes to expand in the future and add more houses for her community. 


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