Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City students helping build tiny homes for homeless youths

Construction technology students at Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City are learning career skills while helping a nonprofit provide shelter to homeless youths.

The students are working in the campus construction bay this semester to build walls that will become part of the first three tiny homes for Pivot Inc.

The nonprofit helps teens and young adults who are homeless or aging out of the foster care system. Pivot provides them with housing, emotional counseling, job training and life-skills training. In April, Pivot officials announced plans to construct a community of tiny homes on their property at 201 NE 50.

The OSU-OKC students are using lumber donated by Builders FirstSource to build the frames of front, back and side walls for the 15-foot-by-22-foot homes. The completed frames will be hauled by truck from campus to the Pivot property, where plans call for the construction of 85 tiny houses. The first three homes are expected to be finished in March.

The project allows the OSU-OKC students to learn real-world trade skills and earn college credit toward a degree in construction technology. At the same time, the students — many of whom work full-time jobs while attending school — can support other young adults who are less fortunate, said Terry Clinefelter, construction technology department head.

“You don’t always get a learning opportunity that also lets you help out in the community,” Clinefelter said. “These are great students, and they are enjoying the chance to do something good for others.”