A local nonprofit is working to keep former foster youth from ending up in the streets of San Diego.
November is National Homelessness Awareness Month, and the “Foster Futures” program through Promises2Kids is paving a path toward housing stability for many young adults.
“I’m an artist. I’m a student. A pet mom. I love to give back to my community,” Brandy Harvey said.
At 27 years old, Harvey has already accomplished so much in her life. She’s a studio art major at UC San Diego and is two quarters away from graduating with her bachelor’s degree. Once she graduates, she plans to apply for a master’s program.
Harvey also works two jobs and has a long list of dreams and aspirations to check off her list. But her journey getting to this point looked very different just two years ago, when she first joined the Foster Futures program.
“For me, personally, the Foster Futures program is super important just because when I did first move home out here, I was homeless for two years, so housing security was really a big reason why I was like I don’t really know about college,” Harvey said.
She’s among 50 participants who are part of a program designed to address homelessness amongst the former foster youth.
With financial support from the Lucky Duck Foundation and the Regional Task Force on Homelessness, Foster Futures provides prevention-based resources and opportunities for high-risk individuals.
Harvey was in the foster care system since she was 8 years old.
“When I first entered foster care, I kind of felt hopeless,” Harvey said.
Once she turned 19, she had no place to call home.
“For a lot of foster youth, housing stability is a big challenge just because you don’t have family to rely on,” she said. “We’re not adopted. We’re technically a ward of the court, so the state is watching over us, but then when they decide to cut us off, basically, we don’t have anywhere to go.”
According to Valerie Santano, chief program officer for Promises2Kids, after a young adult transitions out of the foster system, one in five will experience homelessness.
“They’re on a ledge,” Santano said. “But you give them the right support, resources, and they will use that ledge as a launching pad, and Brandy is an example of that.”
Foster Futures helped Harvey get housing.
“Since I’ve been in the program, I actually signed my first lease completely by myself, which is really, really exciting,” Harvey said. “So I’m just really grateful that they put faith in me, and now I have my own place.”
The program also offered her budgeting, education, therapy and networking support.
“It’s like a very nice feeling to know that even though I didn’t necessarily have my family, these other people believed in me,” Harvey said, adding, “It definitely makes me feel seen and like I have a voice and a purpose.”
The program, which organizers said they hope to expand, has also empowered her to be self-sufficient once she graduates.
“I feel super prepared. I have a job that said I could work full time when I graduate. I’m going to graduate. I have housing,” Harvey said. “It feels like a huge weight off my shoulders. I don’t have to be stressed about paying bills or about what’s going to happen. I just feel like it’s the most stable I’ve ever felt.”
Want more insights? Join Working Title - our career elevating newsletter and get the future of work delivered weekly.
