St. Petersburg City Council recently approved a partnership between the City and Ready for Life Inc. to support young adults aging out of the foster care system. Nearly $1 million has been allocated with funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to initiate Youth Opportunity Grants. St. Petersburg joins the City of Gainesville as the only municipalities in Florida with a city government-led direct cash transfer program.
“The Youth Opportunity Grants program is a great example of how the City is prioritizing the futures of our young people in St. Petersburg,” said Mayor Kenneth T. Welch. “With Education and Youth Opportunities as one of our Pillars for Progress, we are pleased to partner with Ready for Life, an experienced agency providing young adults with much-needed support at this critical juncture in their lives.”
Ready for Life Inc. is a solution-based skill center supporting former foster care youth with homelessness prevention, education and employment, as well as connections to lifeline support networks based in Pinellas County. The City selected Ready for Life Inc. as the nonprofit organization that will administer this program and provide robust wraparound support to participants during and after their participation in the program.
Youth Opportunity Grants is a pilot program focused on former foster youth, ages 18-27, who are not engaged in formal aftercare services and need additional support in their transition to adulthood from the foster care system. The program plans to provide monthly cash disbursements directly to participants. The disbursements are intended to be an economic floor, a supplement (rather than a replacement) for existing income and a safety net. Participants will receive $500 monthly for 12 months.
Kathy Mize, CEO of Ready for Life, said, “Ready for Life is excited about this partnership, knowing firsthand the impact that this assistance will have on the lives of 88 young adults who were in the foster care system.” More than 40% of those served by Ready for Life are homeless and hungry when they come to the program. “Though the statistics are dire for this population, what we’ve discovered in our 15 years’ experience is that with support, they can build successful, productive lives,” Mize said. “Thank you to the City of St. Petersburg and the St. Petersburg City Council for recognizing the hardships faced by the former foster youth right here at home and for doing something so significant to help them.”
Former foster youth face many barriers when transitioning into adulthood. They experience high rates of homelessness, human trafficking and significant mental health issues. These outcomes are further compounded by not having the resources and family support that are becoming increasingly necessary for young people as the economy changes. Research shows that participants in other pilot demonstrations have shown increases in full-time employment, increased ability to pay unexpected expenses and increased emotional well-being as a result of receiving these additional funds each month.
Updates and program information can be found here.