The Smith County Juvenile Services Department is donating a tiny home built by boys in its vocational program to a local ministry.
Smith County Juvenile Services Director Ross Worley said they chose Calvary Commission, a nonprofit ministry in Lindale started by Dr. Joe Fauss almost 50 years ago. The ministry focuses on prison ministry, foreign and domestic missions and discipleship training.
“They have lots of possible uses for the tiny house, such as staff member or intern housing or using it as a retreat cabin,” he said.
Calvary Commission has about 35 employees and 40 students and interns on its 180-acre campus.
Dr. Fauss’ grandson, Tim Fauss, is a residential probation officer at Juvenile Services’ H.O.P.E. Academy, which houses the vocational program.
Tim Fauss’ parents, Jody and Anne Fauss, now run the Lindale ministry and are excited about receiving the tiny home. They said it would provide a place for employees, interns or volunteers to rest.
After taking a look at the home Tuesday afternoon, Jody Fauss said he was impressed with the handiwork and level of expertise that went into it.
“It does have everything that’s needed,” he said. “We’re very grateful for the gift of the tiny home. And I hear they’re making plans for another one.”
Worley said as they prepare to build a second tiny home, they wanted to donate the first one to a worthy nonprofit organization.
Juvenile Service’s H.O.P.E. (Helping Others Pursue Excellence) Academy, is a six-to-nine-month residential program for male juvenile offenders, focusing on behavior modification and family/parent relationships. The children live at the Juvenile Attention Center, work with probation officers, counselors and volunteers, including a chaplain.
The vocational program consists of woodworking, auto mechanics, welding, gardening and life skills classes.
The tiny home was built by boys in the vocational program in 2020.
“In the last year, our H.O.P.E. Academy residents have scraped and repainted the tiny house and made some modifications to it for plumbing and electrical,” Worley said.
The donation was approved Tuesday, September 22, by the Smith County Commissioners Court.
The goal of the building trades vocational class is to teach the kids every aspect of construction – from using hand and power tools, to drafting and designing, building floors, walls, roofing, interior and exterior finishes.
David Peters, who retired from owning a construction business before going to work for the Smith County Juvenile Services Department, found the perfect project to cover it all – building a tiny house.
“The kids enjoyed getting out and working on it and being a part of the project, especially seeing it finished,” Peters said.
Peters has since changed roles at Juvenile Services and Seth Cooke is now the vocational instructor for construction and woodworking. Cook owned his own construction company.

Group Photo: (from left) Smith County Juvenile Services Vocational Instructor Seth Cooke, Director Ross Worley, Probation Officer Tim Fauss, Calvary Commission leaders Anne and Jody Fauss, and Juvenile Vocational Instructor Brent Eddins.