Fostering Youth Independence (FYI), a Santa Clarita non-profit, is celebrating its 100 youth served after launching their “100 for 100” campaign asking for 100 donors to help support the emergency assistance fund for local foster youth.
As Covid relief programs are ending, youth are going to start to face financial hardships that affect their housing situation, schoolwork and day-to-day living, needs that can only be met by FYI’s Emergency Assistance Fund, said Carolyn Olsen, FYI’s executive director and co-founder.
“FYI’s foster youth are economically disadvantaged and lack the means to overcome a financial emergency,” Olsen said. “Without any family support, an unexpected car repair need or other unforeseen expense can derail a student’s educational plans. The transition out of Covid brings many opportunities to more effectively serve our youth, but it also brings challenges.”
FYI’s emergency assistance fund has recently paid for a bed, refrigerators, academic fees, books, laptops, car payments and insurance, rent assistance, emergency transportation, household items, bike repairs and food, according to FYI officials.
Not only are these needs expected to continue throughout the summer, but may rise at the end of September when some of the youth are expected to lose their transitional housing, Olsen said.
“We’re thankful that transitional housing payments to foster youth have been extended to the end of September, allowing our youth to stay in their homes for now,” Olsen said. “But those youth over 21 will lose this benefit at that time which adds additional pressure and worry about where they will live and how they will pay for it. That’s why we’re using this milestone of 100 youth supported to raise awareness about our needs, and asking for 100 people to donate to FYI’s emergency assistance fund, which is key to providing youth with support through difficult financial times.”
The organization’s significant milestone was reached this month, four years since FYI’s founding.
Since that time, they have supported Santa Clarita’s transition age foster youth ages 16 to 25 with needed resources as they age out of the foster system and work to complete a post-secondary education to prepare to become successful, independent adults, according to officials.
Donations can be submitted by clicking here, or by contacting FYI at 661-360-1500.
Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or send an email to newstip@hometownstation.com. Don’t miss a thing. Get breaking KHTS Santa Clarita News Alerts delivered right to your inbox. Report a typo or error, email Corrections@hometownstation.com
KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
No comments:
Post a Comment