Writer: Jennifer Baron
POP City Media
September 5, 2007

Auberle breaks ground on $1.7M, 9,300 sf residential facility in McKeesport

Auberle, a McKeesport-based agency that serves at-risk youth and families, is breaking ground on a new $1.7 million residential facility on September 6th. The 9,300 square-foot facility will house Auberle's GOAL program, which provides short and long-term community-based living for adolescents ages 15-18. Located at 1101 Hartman St., the two-story building will feature twenty-four private rooms, a computer lab and career center.

Auberle's expansion was prompted by an increased demand for its services and residential facilities. “We’ve always had a waiting list,” says Lauri Fink with Auberle. Currently, the site can only accommodate 8-12 youth; the new facility will double the agency’s capacity. Additional improvements include the construction of an outdoor pavilion. Michael Tarle of Massaro Corporation is overseeing the design build.

The site will also house a counseling and recreation facilities. “We toured a lot of facilities in the region to find out what worked best. This will better meet their needs in a more complete way,” adds Fink, who says youth will use their own laundry and kitchen facilities and learn valuable life skills, including driver education, meal planning and social skills.

Serving youth from a 10-county area, Auberle works directly with school districts to track academic achievement and provide GED training. Its vocational center links kids to job placement resources and runs computer and culinary programs. “We’re very outcome driven. We created our own benchmarks because there really aren’t any like this nationally,” says Fink.

Slated to be completed in February of 2008, the project is expected to create 20 new jobs. The expansion is supported by a $400,000 state grant, the first of its kind received by Auberle in its 55-year history.

Source: Lauri Fink, Auberle

Image courtesy of Auberle