Celico’s Story: A Former Foster Youth Finds Home through Innovative Local Partnership
From the Fall 2008 Newsletter
Every year in Alameda County, approximately 300 youth exit the foster care system. Research shows that two out of three youth face imminent homelessness at discharge. (California State Department of Social Services, 2002) Little more than half leave care armed with their GED or high school diploma and their long-term economic and prospects are grim.
This is the story of how the key strategies of the EveryOne Home Plan are being implemented by service providers and developers to make a difference in the lives of Alameda County residents like Celico.
As a teenager Celico made the difficult decision to leave her home in order to escape an “uncomfortable situation”. Unfortunately, her new life was not much better. In order to get through her difficult teenage years she adopted the motto “survive or die”. In her second foster home Celico suffered a devastating disappointment when the adoption she was hoping for never happened. Through all the set backs she continued to focus on her high school education, graduating early with a 3.8 GPA. Celico then emancipated herself six months early from foster care.
On her own at 17 and with no stable place to live she bounced around, staying at friend’s houses for years. During this time Celico became pregnant with twins and realized stable housing needed to become a priority. She contacted First Place for Youth, an EveryOne Home partner dedicated to helping youth build a foundation for life after foster care. She enrolled in My First Place, a supported housing program that provides stability for former foster youth through safe, permanent, affordable housing, intensive case management, and advocacy and support services.
Before long, Celico moved into a brand new “green” apartment in downtown Oakland conveniently located near Laney College where she is studying full-time to become a medical assistant. She is also working part-time as a marketing associate at a real estate agency.
Celico’s building, Madison @14th St Apartments was developed by Affordable Housing Associates, another EveryOne Home partner in ending homelessness. It was the winner of the 2008 East Bay AIA Best Residential Design Award. It is home to 79 low income families, including homeless youth, many of whom are former foster youth. The collaboration between AHA and First Place incorporates the EveryOne Homes key strategies of providing permanent housing and wrap-around services to those who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness. For Celico that means she has a place to call home, and that is what EveryOne Home is all about.