Transitioning out of foster care can feel perilous, uncertain and often translates to homelessness, unemployment, and poverty. With supportive adults to help them succeed, and guidance in developing life skills, foster youth can build the foundations for success.
Foster youth face greater risks of homelessness, unemployment and poverty. Each young adult in our My First Place Program moves into an apartment and partners with caring adults for education, employment and life-skills supports. Together, they forge a path to success that harnesses the young adult’s significant resilience to build their education, employment, and life skills.
Read the latest in our Annual Report.
My First Place is a nationally recognized education and employment program providing housing and case management for foster youth between ages 18 and 24. Supporting foster youth entering adulthood with jobs that earn a living wage, this program fosters a sense of permanency and stability while building skills to be self-sufficient long-term.
Coaching to reach education and employment goals
Develop healthy living skills & remove barriers
A safe place to call home
The Independent Living Skills Program provides current and former foster youth (ages 16-21) with essential guidance, support, and services as they transition to independence. At our sites in San Francisco and Solano Counties, young people find a welcoming and supportive atmosphere to build community, explore academic and career development and develop independent living skills.
Program features include:
Academic support
Tailored resources & referrals
Finding family services
Building skills & networks
From foster homes to group homes to Supervised Independent Living Programs approved by county social workers, what works for one person might not work for another. First Place collaborates in a broad continuum of local programs and services to best meet the needs of each transition-aged youth. We partner with San Francisco providers at the sites below.
Mercy Housing, since 2015
Coordinated services each year for 25 formerly homeless transition-age youth living at the Ocean Avenue Affordable Housing Development
John Burton Advocates for Youth Housing (JBAY), since 2018
Services for 25 formerly homeless transition-age youth each year at a housing site run by Booker T. Washington Community Service Center.
Rising Up, since 2019
Case management and robust employment and education services for 60 formerly homeless transition-age youth each year through the city’s ambitious Rising Up Initiative to end youth homelessness.