Of the more than 23,000 children who age out of the U.S. foster care system annually, 20 percent of them will soon become homeless, according to statistics from the National Foster Youth Institute. Just half of them, on average, will obtain gainful employment by age 18; and, also alarming, less than 3 percent of them will earn a college degree.
Meritan’s Supportive Independent Living program provides teenage females with an opportunity to concentrate on navigating early adulthood minus the abrupt unprepared financial strain of paying for rent and utility expenses in a safe and secure residence.
The program is to help young adult females transition from foster care into independent adult “success” so they can reach their full potential and an independent lifestyle. Meritan staff provide various life skills training such as financial literacy, home management, navigating independent living and more. Participants are required to be employed and/or in a post-secondary education program.