FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 11, 2022
OAKLAND, CA — Unity Care, a San Jose-based nonprofit organization that provides safe, stable housing and supportive services for foster youth and young adults in nine Northern California counties, recently opened a new transitional dorm-style home for boys and young men in the city of Oakland.
The 10-bedroom dorm-style home near Lake Merritt is Unity Care’s first home in Oakland. The two-story house will be home to up to nine foster youth and emerging adults ages 18 to 21.
Unity Care’s goal is to provide safe, stable housing for youth as they transition out of foster care and supportive services to assist them in achieving self-sufficiency. The dorm-style home offers an atmosphere of love, warmth and understanding while youth work towards their educational, behavioral and employment goals.
Nationally, an average of 40% of foster youth experience homelessness within two years of leaving the system. Less than three percent of foster youth graduate from college, and one quarter are incarcerated by age 24. Unity Care works to change this trajectory, starting with safe and supportive affordable housing.
The nonprofit organization has been working to increase its housing capacity to meet the growing needs of this vulnerable population. The agency has housing capacity to serve approximately 150 transitional age foster youth throughout the Bay Area and Northern California. This month Unity Care released its new 5-Year Strategic Plan laying out its focus for eradicating homelessness among foster youth.
“Housing is the most critical need for foster youth — without it, they can’t focus on school or work, much less their health and well-being. And now, after two years of the pandemic, the mental health and housing challenges for this vulnerable population are even greater than before,” said Will Alexander, Unity Care’s San Francisco/East Bay Regional Director. “We’re excited to be able to expand our transitional housing for youth and emerging adults transitioning out of foster care — and in such a great location!”
###
About the Unity Care Group
Founded in 1993, we transform the lives of young people in and emerging from foster care by providing stable housing, caring connections, and life skills that build a foundation to achieve their potential. Unity Care provides supportive housing in nine Northern California counties, delivering culturally proficient and trauma-informed services centered on Unity Care’s “5 Pillars of Success” – HOUSING, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, WELL-BEING, and UNCONDITIONAL CARE. Unity Care is nationally accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA). To learn more about Unity Care visit www.unitycare.org.
Contact
Tatiana Colon, Director of Strategic Partnerships, tcolon@unitycare.org (408) 971-9822
