NONPROFIT Hope’s Path
BY EMILY LINCKE
Spring nonpro t provides housing, assistance to young men formerly in foster care system F or young adults who age out of foster care at age 18, nding a job, a place to live
The residents at Hope’s Path must also agree to live sober lifestyles during the two-year program and attend sessions covering nancial literacy and character development. “It takes almost six months ... for [the young men’s] guards to go down [and they] actually start to trust us,” he said. While staying at Hope’s Path, the residents pay $350 in rent per month, Anderchuk said, to rent their own room and access shared facilities, such as a game room, laundry facilities and a kitchen. Hope’s Path also o ers its residents the opportunity to make monthly payments on a donated vehicle before eventually owning it. Upon completion of the program, Anderchuk said Hope’s Path residents receive all of the money they paid in rent to help them transition to independent living—an average of $8,000-$10,000. In mid-November, Hope’s Path broke ground on a new set of tiny homes so former foster care indi- viduals have an independent-living option with access to Hope’s Path programming. Anderchuk estimated the homes will cost $100,000- $200,000 to build with some of the funding already provided through donations. However, the remaining amount still needs to be fundraised. “I would challenge the community to give … to help fund not only the expenses of our organization that we have here, but the expansion of the tiny homes as well,” Anderchuk said.
and transportation without support can be a di cult task, which is why Spring-area nonpro t Hope’s Path was created, said Roman Walley, who serves on the organization’s board. “Unfortunately, a lot of times what happens with young men and women, when they age out of foster care, [is] they nd that their bags are … placed out on the porch,” Walley said. Data from the Administration for Children and Families shows 20% of young adults who have aged out of foster care were incarcerated during the last two years by age 19, and 42% will experience homelessness by the time they turn 21. Founded in 2016, Hope’s Path is a Christian-based orga- nization that aims to help men ages 18-28 avoid these odds by providing them with housing, transportation and life skills classes. The Spring-area center is home to 10 residents who grew up in foster care—seven in Texas and three from other U.S. states. “We get calls every day for people looking to come in,” Executive Director Brandon Anderchuk said. “It is a huge need.” To live at Hope’s Path, residents must go through an application pro- cess to see if they are a good t for the program, Anderchuk said. Program leaders look for residents who have a goal to better themselves, such as nding a job or nishing school.
Hope’s Path leaders, such as board member Roman Walley and Executive Director Brandon Anderchuk, aim to assist young men ages 18 28 who have aged out of the foster care system.
PHOTOS BY EMILY LINCKE COMMUNITY IMPACT
The nonpro t has begun construction of a group of tiny homes for young men who grew up in foster care.
Hope’s Path is located at 28918 S. Plum Creek Drive, Spring.
LIFE AFTER FOSTER CARE When young adults in foster care turn 18, they have the option to remain in the system until age 21 or to pursue independence. State and national data shows that these individuals face many obstacles after leaving foster care.
1 in 4 Texas foster care students dropped out of school in 2019 . 1,258 young adults aged out of the Texas foster care system in 2020 , meaning they no longer received services after turning 18 .
42% of young adults who aged out of the U.S. foster care system have experienced homelessness by age 21. 1 in 5 young adults who aged out of the U.S. foster care system were incarcerated recently by age 19 .
SOURCES: THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, THE ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, THE TEXAS ALLIANCE OF CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES COMMUNITY IMPACT
SPRING CREEK DR.
Hope’s Path 28918 S. Plum Creek Drive, Spring 281-465-8121 www.hopespath.org
S. PLUM CREEK DR.
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