"Home" for the holidays

The fall semester is ending, with finals either already here or looming in the very near future. Within the next week or so, dorm rooms will empty out as everyone returns home for the holidays and winter break. 

But where do young adults in or recently out of foster care go if they don’t have a permanent home?  

The truth is, it varies. They may go to an old foster family, to their bio family or to a friend’s home. They may stay in an off campus apartment or find a cheap housing option near school or near their hometown. Regardless, the point is that the end of the semester is not as simple as packing up a duffel bag and hopping on the turnpike. For many, there is a great deal of uncertainty and, potentially, loneliness. 

There’s not a quick solution to this problem, but it is a good reminder that young people aging out of foster care need support in myriad ways - at the holidays and year round. If you want to be a part of that support, contact the R.J. Leonard Foundation. More information is available here. ​