Heroes of our town: New Yorker raised 60 adopted children

So many chicks have flown out of Bryant's house since 2007. You can call Guy Bryant a father Brooklyn. That's over 60 older teens and young adults, reports Daily News. In 2007, a 19-year-old teenager convinced a child welfare worker to take him in as a foster child.

The generosity and hospitality that Bryant showed to vulnerable teenagers prompted his ACS colleagues to nominate him for the Daily News Hometown Heroes Award as an outstanding citizen.

Bryant, 64, has been an ACS caregiver for more than a decade, looking after the city's orphanages for countless young people. But he never thought about taking his work home with him.

"I got attached to it to kid, but when he asked if I would be his adoptive parent, I hesitated at first,” Bryant recalled. But I said, "Okay, let's try."

The first adopted son himself asked to Bryant

Bryant, who has been with the ACS since 1988 and before that with the Department of Education, knew the teenager, Rob Ramirez, through his child protection work. At the time, Bryant was the ACS Community Coordinator, working in the Bed Reduction Unit, trying to place children in homes with relatives or family friends.

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At first it was just the two of them in Bryant's house, but then Ramirez asked Bryant if his best friend could move in with him.

It was hard for Bryant to say no.

From there, Bryant's reception center expanded exponentially. Ramirez's friend had a buddy, and this friend had a brother, and they both moved too.

“Then I got a bigger apartment,” he said.

Bryant, who has no biological children, began taking boys and men aged 17 and over. He moved into a two-story house in East New York and rented an apartment in the attic where there were three extra beds.

The attic dwelling was not intended for adopted children, but for young people who needed somewhere to stay. They paid him $200 a month in rent and served as responsible role models for teenagers.

Bryant has his own rules

Foster kids follow Bryant's rules: no drugs, no company, no fights.

At one point, Bryant accommodated nine people in his home, he said. This resulted in "astronomical" food bills of over $3000 a month.

He never gives the children an exact departure date. According to Bryant, the longest stay of a foster child in the family was seven years.

Although he becomes attached to young people, he does not shed tears when they leave.

“It's exciting when someone leaves. I'm not sad to see them go because I'm there and most likely I'll be in touch with them," Bryant said. “This is your home and you will always be welcome if you want to come and eat or talk.”

He said that about 85% of his former adopted children now live in their own apartments.

“I am very proud of many of them,” he said.

These days, Bryant can host up to four children. But from time to time the door creaks open. The foster father often meets his former pupils in his house.

“I very rarely take my keys back,” he said.