The Dwelling
We serve young women age 17-24 who have experienced foster care or homelessness.
The Dwelling Needs Your Help
The Dwelling serves young women age 17-24 who have experienced foster care or homelessness. Built on Christian principles, we seek to demonstrate God’s love by providing basic needs during the transition to independent living.
Donate FinanciallyFinancial support allows Flourish to serve young women by covering housing, utilities, counseling, transportation, and much more at The Dwelling. Donations are tax deductible and should be given to "Flourish Foster Care Closet & Support, Inc."
Click Here to Give Now |
PrayYoung women who have experienced foster care and/or homelessness navigate unique circumstances, often without extensive networks of support. Pray for them. Pray for hope and sincere connections.
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VolunteerWe have many opportunities for you to help us serve the needs of the future. We know it is extremely important to find the area that matches your passion and your expertise.
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ContactPlease contact
423-828-2252 or aimee@flourishcloset.com |
Who Needs Our Help
700CHILDREN “AGE OUT” OF FOSTER CARE THIS YEAR IN GA
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27,000CHILDREN “AGE OUT” OF FOSTER CARE THIS IN THE UNITED STATES
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36%CHILDREN THAT “AGE OUT” OF FOSTER CARE THIS YEAR IN GA & FIND THEMSELVES HOMELESS
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32%
CHILDREN THAT “AGE OUT” OF FOSTER CARE THIS YEAR IN GA & WILL BE VICTIMS OF ASSAULT OR "SURVIVAL SEX"
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Every year, approximately 700 children will age out of the foster care system in Georgia, and 27,000 will age out nationwide.
To give you an idea of what this reality looks like, the average public school in a suburban area contains around 656 students, and the University of Georgia has approximately 29,000 students enrolled in their undergraduate programs.
Now, imagine one day that a local school once full of smiling children is suddenly empty, or a major university campus like UGA has so few students it looks like a ghost town. They’re just gone. Maybe a portion have found a safe home to stay. If not, they’re homeless. Sadly some are trafficked, in jail, or dead. This is the reality that former foster youth live in, and the reality that all of us together at Flourish are trying to fight with The Dwelling project. We are told we can't save them all, but we will sure try to do our part to save who we can.
To give you an idea of what this reality looks like, the average public school in a suburban area contains around 656 students, and the University of Georgia has approximately 29,000 students enrolled in their undergraduate programs.
Now, imagine one day that a local school once full of smiling children is suddenly empty, or a major university campus like UGA has so few students it looks like a ghost town. They’re just gone. Maybe a portion have found a safe home to stay. If not, they’re homeless. Sadly some are trafficked, in jail, or dead. This is the reality that former foster youth live in, and the reality that all of us together at Flourish are trying to fight with The Dwelling project. We are told we can't save them all, but we will sure try to do our part to save who we can.
Foster Care Can Only Do So Much
While foster care was originally supposed to be is a virtuous way of rescuing children, here in the U.S is not sufficient . Even if we there are some foster homes that are not ideal and may even be abusive or neglectful, the children are also continuously re-traumatized by moving from home to home, the state of aged-out adults alone should be enough to speak to the failings of the foster care system.
After reaching the age of 18, approximately 20% of the children in foster care will be “emancipated” and become immediately homeless, and the average number for homelessness experienced by these aged-out adults climbs to 36% when considering their lives as a whole. Another percentage of children will choose to go back to their abusers and those who neglected them, many of those still end up homeless. Half of them will remain in care without gainful employment, only a quarter of them will ever get a diploma or GED, and fewer than 3% will ever obtain a college degree of any level. These children often enter the world traumatized, alone, and with no guidance from anyone.
After reaching the age of 18, approximately 20% of the children in foster care will be “emancipated” and become immediately homeless, and the average number for homelessness experienced by these aged-out adults climbs to 36% when considering their lives as a whole. Another percentage of children will choose to go back to their abusers and those who neglected them, many of those still end up homeless. Half of them will remain in care without gainful employment, only a quarter of them will ever get a diploma or GED, and fewer than 3% will ever obtain a college degree of any level. These children often enter the world traumatized, alone, and with no guidance from anyone.
The Dark Reality of Post Foster Care
It isn’t just homelessness and a lack of education that plagues former foster youth—oftentimes they end up in far worse situations either out of poor judgment, not knowing any better, a lack of protection, or a need to survive. It’s hardly a secret that homeless people, in general, are treated as criminals by default, but when that homeless person is a foster kid who has been continuously shown that the world doesn’t care for them, the likelihood of them ever asking an authority figure for help goes down even further.
This leaves them open for further abuse and dangerous or even deadly situations. Around 32% of all homeless young adults experience some form of assault or robbery, 14% will engage in some form of “survival sex”—whether it be in the form of prostitution or sex trafficking—and a quarter of them will end up imprisoned.
This leaves them open for further abuse and dangerous or even deadly situations. Around 32% of all homeless young adults experience some form of assault or robbery, 14% will engage in some form of “survival sex”—whether it be in the form of prostitution or sex trafficking—and a quarter of them will end up imprisoned.
You Can Make a Difference
Not all is lost. We are here to help. Our programs is continuously being built help young women who have aged out of foster care, on both the federal and state levels. Most youth who have aged out of foster care are eligible for health care for a couple of years under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and are assured health insurance coverage under the Medicaid program until they turn 26. It is advised to contact Georgia’s Medicaid Office to learn more about their state-specific policies.
In terms of our program development, former foster youth will have benefits from our organization that not only help them survive but help them thrive. In particular, the program will assist with education and entering the workforce. This has been shown through similar programs to have had a powerful effect, and programs that actively welcome and create safe spaces for women are often the most effective of these since women and minority groups are disproportionately affected by homelessness and familial rejection. Oftentimes, the most important thing that these young women need is an adult or family to guide them into independence.
The reality of the situation these young women face may be bleak, but it doesn’t have to stay that way, and we can all make a difference by stepping up and supporting our mission. You can be a part of the solution. Consider becoming a partner or mentoring family today!
In terms of our program development, former foster youth will have benefits from our organization that not only help them survive but help them thrive. In particular, the program will assist with education and entering the workforce. This has been shown through similar programs to have had a powerful effect, and programs that actively welcome and create safe spaces for women are often the most effective of these since women and minority groups are disproportionately affected by homelessness and familial rejection. Oftentimes, the most important thing that these young women need is an adult or family to guide them into independence.
The reality of the situation these young women face may be bleak, but it doesn’t have to stay that way, and we can all make a difference by stepping up and supporting our mission. You can be a part of the solution. Consider becoming a partner or mentoring family today!
The Current Cost
The cost per year for taxpayers is an estimated $40,000 per homeless person.
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2,230,000
young adults 18-24 living homeless $89.2 BILLION |
85,000/yr
age out of Foster Care or become homeless $3.4 BILLION |
425,000
additional homeless in 5 years. $17 BILLION |
If we do nothing, in 5 years the total cost for unconnected young adults will reach $106.2 Billion Annually!