LAFAYETTE, IN — After finding success in turning the lives of young men in Greater Lafayette around, Launch House plans to expand into a second facility aiming to do the same for young women.
The three-story residential building comprised of one-bedroom units next to Star Furniture in Lafayette was built in 2021 by business owner and philanthropist Mike Zeman, seeking to help young men with few resources successfully “launch” into adulthood.
A requested rezone of property owned by Zeman’s Star Furniture and the existing Launch House offered plans for a Launch House II, devoted to young women experiencing life struggles in early adulthood.
The rezone request, brought before the Tippecanoe County Area Plan Commission on Wednesday, includes the existing Launch House property, currently zoned for general business, and two grass lots along Fortune Drive: one positioned in front of Sell-It-Here and one just south of Star Furniture.
Since officially opening Launch House, part of Zeman’s Lafayette Mentors non-profit programs, Executive Director Wendy Medbourn said the program has helped 23 young men.
The residential program offers men between the ages of 18 and 22 learn to become independent, successful and responsible adults. They are expected to participate in regular classes and programming while also working toward a career path, such as college, trade school or other skilled job training.
“Our slogan is, ‘Launch a life, leave a legacy,'” Medbourn said.
Residents come from a variety of backgrounds, such as aging out of foster care, recently being released from jail or experiencing homelessness.
The decision to pursue a women’s Launch House, Medbourn said, came more than a year ago after conversations with Department of Child Services case workers in Lafayette.
The women’s Launch House will mirror the existing men’s building.
The third parcel included in the rezone will house a new facility for the nonprofit’s after-school program, First Crew, for boys in fifth through eighth grades aimed to help students build a stronger academic work ethic and other positive habits before entering high school.
The current First Crew property, which features a gymnasium and study spaces for students, is within the same strip mall along Fortune Drive as Sell-It-Here. Zeman said he has had discussions with Tippecanoe Senior Services about renting the existing facility to the fellow nonprofit to accommodate growth.
Given that the new First Crew location would then be across the street from Tippecanoe Senior Services, Zeman said he sees a win-win opportunity for both young and old.
“They’ve expressed interest in developing a mentorship program, and how convenient that would be?” Zeman said. “How great would it be for both the young people and how good would it be for the older people, you know, to have something like that for both of them?”
The development project will see majority of its funding come through Star Furniture, which has operated for several years as a fundraising arm for Zeman’s nonprofit, with 100% of sales going to charity, he said. As the nonprofit continues to grow, Medbourn said they are actively seeking community sponsors to help with financials as well as in-person mentorship opportunities.
An APC unanimous vote of approval pushes the development project forward to the Lafayette City Council, which will meet on Monday, Aug. 3, at 6 p.m. at 20 N. Sixth St.
Jillian Ellison is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. She can be reached via email at jellison@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Lafayette plans for second ‘Launch House’ geared to young women
Reporting by Jillian Ellison, Lafayette Journal & Courier / Lafayette Journal & Courier
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By Jillian Ellison, Lafayette Journal & Courier | USA TODAY Network
