BRIDGE HOUSING PROGRAM

Every year more than 200 foster youth will leave the state funded foster care system in the Houston area and attempt to navigate adulthood with little in the way of support or the skills needed to transition successfully.  Almost all foster youth leave care with a plan to live independently that sounds great on paper and in transition meetings; however, in practice, many become homeless, involved with law enforcement and/or unemployed within six months of leaving the foster care system because of the lack of preparation.

Bridge Housing is a program for youth who are leaving foster care and need additional supports and experiences before moving into a more independent living arrangement.  The goal of this project is to provide youth with a safe, rent-free place where they can learn to live independently, take risks and learn experientially with a safety net and a support system in place.  In return, youth agree to engage in services and programming that are closely supervised by HAY Center staff that will include advanced life skills training (i.e. budgeting, cooking, house cleaning, making good choices), counseling, employment and/or post – secondary education assistance and other services deemed necessary on a case by case basis. The youth also develop a sense of community with peers also in the Bridge Housing Program.  PAL eligible youth must be referred to the program by their State PAL worker or HAY Center case manager.