Foster youth are 10x more likely to be homeless than their peers.

Every year across the U.S., more than 20,000 youth between the ages of 18-21 age out* of foster care. Tragically, 25 percent of these young adults experience homelessness within the first year of leaving foster care, and 50 percent will be homeless within the first four years. These statistics are staggering, especially when studies show that only four percent of young adults ages 18-26 reported EVER being homeless nationwide.

It’s unacceptable. Everyone deserves a safe home and a warm bed, so we’re here to stop the cycle.

Our Your Way Home program rapidly “re-houses” homeless youth between the ages of 18-24 who have aged out of care and who are now experiencing homelessness. We utilize strategies that permanently house individuals and young families as quickly as possible. Prior to the development of this program, there was no dedicated housing resource for this population beyond the adult homeless shelter system.

Why is this an issue? The adult system assumes that participants have a previous rental and employment history, and family connections that can be leveraged for support. Young people don’t meet the chronically homeless definition from the State, because they are too young without enough rental/employment history and, as former foster youth, without family support.

The rapid rehousing process includes:

A referral to Foster Forward from the state’s Coordinated Entry System.
Conversations between former foster youth and Foster Forward staff about situation and needs.
Research by our staff to locate a safe apartment and reputable landlord.
A meeting with all parties - landlord, potential tenant (former foster youth), and staff.
An apartment inspection + walk through by staff.
Physical signing of leases by youth, with staff oversight and support.
In-person delivery of housing essentials to help youth get started in their new home, including bedding, pots, pans, utensils, gift cards, and often a bag of groceries.
Ongoing case management, meaning staff help young people build every day skills like budgeting, shopping, and cooking, as well as navigating community and health resources.

The Your Way Home program is responsive to both the developmental needs of the population and guidelines on a Housing First approach. Housing First is a homeless assistance approach that prioritizes providing permanent housing to people experiencing homelessness, thus serving as a platform from which they can pursue personal goals and improve their quality of life.

Foster Forward staff utilizing the RI HMIS system must comply with the following: CLICK HERE FOR POLICY DETAILS

If you have questions about the program or are experiencing homelessness as a recent foster youth, please contact Your Way Home staff member Scott at (401) 438-3900 x215. Foster Forward also operates a Drop-In Center for young people who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE DROP-IN CENTER.

*Aging out occurs when youth must leave the foster care system because the state was not able to find an adoptive family or reunify them with their biological family, and they are too old to stay in care.

Support the Your Way Home Program

If you would like to support the Your Way Home program with a donation, please donate HERE.

If you would like to make a donation of new or gently used household essentials, including bedding, pots, pans, utensils, etc., please contact Kate Bronner at kate.bronner@fosterward.net.