GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A local nonprofit that has cared for hundreds of Georgia's sick and disabled children is being forced to shut down because it has run out of money.
Channel 2's Kerry Kavanaugh went to the Dream House in Lilburn, where the staff is hoping for a last-minute miracle.
After 10 years of service, dwindling economic resources have forced the Lilburn nonprofit to shut down. The state has cut funding and donors have dropped off.
And as of this week, the staff was told there was no more money and children are going back into state care.
"They helped me get better when I was sick," said 6-year-old Laura Kate.
She went to the Dream House as an infant because she was born premature with severe heart problems.
The staff cared for her for eight months, but also helped prepare her mother "Kelly" as she prepared to adopt her.
"You just kind of assume that everybody has a parent that loves them and takes care of them and that's not only the case," said Kelly.
"A home like this means it's a home. It's not a hospital," said foster parent Judy Hammett.
Hammet and her husband, Ken, have fostered and adopted five severely disabled children.
They said the Dream House helps families like them transition from a hospital to home, but also costs less than big institutions or a nursing home.
"They don't see that they're probably paying 10 times more to the hospital to take care of him than they would have to support him in the Dream House," said Hammett.
"We've had a 100 percent success at either finding homes or keeping children in their home," said Dream House founder Laura Moore. "The saddest part is the children that we could have helped."
For now, the Dream House has suspended its operations.
They said with a big enough infusion of cash, they could continue their work almost immediately.
They are looking for a corporate sponsor so that they can carry on their work for the next several years.
If you're interested in helping the Dream House, visit DreamHouseForKids.org