KILLEEN — A nonprofit teen center that provides after‑school programs, a computer lab, arts space and a community garden is asking Killeen residents for help after the building it leases was sold and its rent more than doubled.
Background and mission
The ImPossible Oveta Culp Hobby Teen Club has been operating since 2016, and moved into its current location at 319 E. Young Ave. under a lease that began in 2024. The club’s executive director and founder, Vantonio Fraley, said he launched the organization after returning to Killeen in 2010 and seeing an urgent need for safe spaces for adolescents.
Fraley recalled a grim milestone from his youth: “that was the year Killeen broke the record for teen deaths, that summer.” He said that memory helped motivate his efforts to create programming that centers goal setting, life skills and safe recreation for local teens.
Current crisis: rent increase and back payments
Fraley told WE NEWS the nonprofit is now confronting a sharp increase in rent after the property was sold. The organization says the monthly rent rose by more than $2,000, and the club is currently behind on payments by $5,000. If the nonprofit cannot pay the owners by the end of this week, the group faces the loss of its building.
“The reality is if you care enough you just do it,” Fraley said. “So for me it was a problem, I care enough, so I funded this through myself, through my efforts, and that’s kind of where we are now.”
Jennifer Ruiz, a board member of the ImPossible club, stressed that community contributions go directly to supporting the teens who use the space. “If you invest a dollar… there’s a kid behind that,” she said. Ruiz said the club offers activities and skills that students might not get in school — a point club leaders emphasize when appealing for local support.
Programs and usage
During the recent summer session the club reported 58 children attended programs at the site. The facility includes a computer lab, a craft station, a music room and a garden. Fraley and board members say those resources give young people a place to be loud, to explore interests and to socialize without becoming destructive.
- Established: 2016
- Current leased location since: 2024
- Address: 319 E. Young Ave., Killeen
- Summer attendance reported: 58 kids
- Current arrears: $5,000
- Rent increase: more than $2,000/month
Local implications and what’s at stake
Loss of the space would mean the shutdown or displacement of programs many families rely on for after‑school supervision, skills development and social interaction. For a city that has grappled with youth safety challenges in the past, local organizers say steady community outlets for teenagers are a critical part of prevention and support.
Fraley noted he has shouldered much of the funding personally but that private donations and grants have not consistently covered the club’s needs. Board members are now appealing to neighbors, donors and local organizations for short‑term donations to cover the immediate arrears and to help negotiate or secure a sustainable rent arrangement.
| Item | Amount (reported) |
|---|---|
| Back rent owed | $5,000 |
| Monthly rent increase | More than $2,000 |
| Summer attendance | 58 children |
Club leaders have until this Friday to meet the owners’ payment deadline. They are urging anyone who can to reach out with donations, in‑kind support or connections to more affordable space. The organization also hopes local nonprofits and municipal partners will consider short‑term support while a longer‑term solution is explored.
For many parents and teens in Killeen, the ImPossible Oveta Culp Hobby Teen Club has become a known place for enrichment and supervision. Its future now rests on whether the community can rally quickly to cover arrears and help the group secure a lease that keeps the doors open for young people in the neighborhood.
