Local community development to house young adults that age out of foster care

 

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- It’s a scary transition for anyone going from child to adult, but especially for those that don’t have a place to call home or a family to call their own. 

Startling statistics show what happens to most children that eventually age out of the foster care system.

“There’s a lot of great safety net programs that are available for these young people, but I feel like what’s missing a lot is the relationships,” says Matt Borst, Executive Director of Village to Village International.

Borst is flipping the narrative that describes the youth that age out of foster care. 

According to Village to Village International, one in five will become homeless, one in four will experience PTSD, and 65% will become incarcerated after they leave the system. 

“When we turn 18, it’s a huge challenge just to navigate that transition, and let alone if you don’t know who to trust or who to lean on,” Borst says.

His experiences working with foster children has motivated him to create a community where young adults that are out of foster care can live and transition into adulthood together. 

The two duplexes unveiled on Thursday are just the beginning, soon there will be seven homes that will make up the Oasis community and bring vibrancy to the Near Northwest Neighborhood. 

“I’m really glad that there’s people here that are called into this ministry to help these kids,” says Megan Ramirez, who is helping the project as a sponsor through her business, Monterrey Mexican Grill.

After years of uncertainty in the system, this housing can be what gives them a sense of belonging and drives them to success. 

“I’m so excited for these kids that maybe have trauma and not have good experiences that they can come here and feel safe and loved,” Ramirez says.

“We just want to be that sense of community and help build relationships that can be supportive for them,” says Borst.

Friday is move-in day for several of those young adults that are transitioning into their next phase of life.

You can help support this community by donating towards their next phase in the project, by visiting their website.