Bridges of Moore celebrated the ribbon‑cutting of a new village featuring 20 apartments designed to help homeless high school students stay in school and graduate. The development, located in Moore, Oklahoma, offers duplex‑style units with bedrooms, living rooms and kitchens, plus transportation to school and post‑graduation planning.
Personal stories highlight impact
Jefte Lozano, who once lived out of his car as a teenager, says the program gave him a second chance. “I was very embarrassed, and I am glad that didn’t let that stop me, because Bridges transformed and changed my life,” he said. Lozano now works for one of the top three architecture firms in Oklahoma and credits the housing program for enabling him to attend college.
Stacy Bruce, executive director of Bridges of Oklahoma, explained the broader need: “If you’re worried about being abused or neglected, if you’re street homeless, then you’re not worried about math and you’re not worried about your English paper.” The village aims to remove those distractions by providing a stable home environment.
School officials welcome the initiative
Robert Romines, superintendent of Moore Public Schools, described meeting the program’s first resident. “She said, ‘You just don’t have any clue or understand what this means to me.’ And I said, ‘You’re right, I don’t.’ I always had a bed, I always had a pillow to lay my head on at night,” Romines recalled, emphasizing the relief families feel when students have a safe place to sleep.
The program also includes transportation to school and assistance with life‑after‑graduation planning, ensuring students have the resources they need to succeed beyond high school.
Community hopes for expansion
Lozano expressed his gratitude and hope for the future: “I would not be here if it wasn’t for this program. This program made sure I went to college, they made sure I had the funding for housing. I dreamed of this day — the day when there would be another Bridges, so that more students could have the same opportunity that I had.”
Local leaders and donors are optimistic that the Moore village will serve as a model for other communities seeking to address youth homelessness through faith‑based, family‑focused solutions.
Original reporting: Oklahoma City News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
