Do you know where youth in New York City live once they age out of foster care? Some young adults live in traditional affordable housing, while others move into something called supportive housing. Supportive housing is also affordable, but offers supportive social services in an environment that can allow a former foster youth to focus on the skills they need to live on their own or provide more permanent care. This kind of environment can be incredibly beneficial to certain individuals according to professionals at our referring partners Rising Ground and JCCA.

"This is a transitional housing, where these youth can have independence but also the support they need to grow into adults. It's great for many youths in many situations," said Dolinda Greaves, Housing Specialist at Rising Ground.

Maxene Stainrod, Director of LEAP at JCCA says, "I love supportive [housing]. I see what it's done for a number of our youth that have transitioned. I think that it affords the ability for them to come into adulthood at their own pace. They're not forced to maintain employment, because a lot of them are figuring it out...This is a pivotal point for them...it's a lot for them to adjust to, and they know they have that support just paces away from them. "

A Hearts to Homes fulfillment can look different if a recipient is living in supportive housing. Some supportive housing arrangements already include basic furniture, like a bed frame, sofa, and table and chairs. So, what does that mean if we also offer these items? It means that we help these individuals over time. Hearts to Homes provides them with all the necessities that are not already included in their living arrangement, like towels or cookware. Then, when they transition into a more traditional apartment without furniture, we can assist again by providing them with a loveseat, chair and coffee table. This allows us another opportunity to stay in touch with those who are referred for assistance.

How frequently is Hearts to Homes assisting youth in supportive housing? We have noticed an uptick in the number of youths going into this type of living. In the past, 1 out of every 10 Hearts to Homes requests was from a young adult moving into supportive housing. In the last couple of years, that number has increased to about 1 in 5. Greaves attributes most of this change to a growing number of new supportive housing developments, while Stainrod notes that JCCA is focusing on placing more youths in this type of housing because of the level of the support and services it provides.

In the end, your donations help young adults aging out of foster care who find many different types of housing and, frequently, makes a difference for them not just once, but across years.