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Every year, right here in San Diego, about 300 youth turn 18, leave the foster care
system and face caring for themselves with little or no help from their families.
Not surprisingly, this lack of support translates to highly disproportionate levels
of unemployment and homelessness.
- Up to 40% of the homeless population is former foster youth, surpassing veterans.
- Only 1-3% of former foster youth graduate from college.
- Approximately 70% of state penitentiary inmates are former foster youth.
But there's a different story when Just in Time mobilizes our community to serve
as an extended family for these youth whose prior family experience was often of
neglect and abuse. You can help change the dismal statistics into a story of success.
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"I am thankful every day for the help I have received from Just In Time/My First
Home program. I am so very grateful that I am in a safe, comfortable and stable
environment where I can focus on my work and academics."
-Melanie
Melanie lived in five different places in less than five years as a teenager in
foster care before leaving the system at 18. Now she's well on her way to self-sufficiency
working as a pet care specialist and attending San Diego Mesa College full time
with plans to eventually transfer to USD.
Last summer, Melanie finally had the chance to turn her apartment into a safe, stable
home of her own. First, she picked up many of her small household needs at a JIT
My First Home Storage Day, including bedding, utensils and towels purchased with
community contributions. Then, JIT partnered with Jerome's to furnish Melanie's
place with a sofa, dinette table, chairs and a dresser. And finally, she received
her brand new bed delivery from Sleep Train.
Or Margarita, who emancipated without family support after being in and out of foster
care, in addition to the challenges of being in a wheelchair. Now, she's working
and going to school full time with a home she can be proud of because of JIT volunteers
and caring companies who helped her with the essentials to set up her first home.
These life-changing stories are possible because of people like you who recognize
that a small investment now not only changes the lives of the individual youth served
but also breaks the cycle of foster care for the future families they will be able
to support.
Please join us to make former foster youth part of your investment in our community's
future.
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