1. Get Ready

Foster Community Ties

If you think your community needs a transitional living program, begin reaching out to people and organizations. You can join an already existing homeless or youth services collaborative or start your own task force.

The collaboration that you join or start might include the following members:

• Youth considered leaders in the community


• Homeless or formerly homeless youth


• A city council member


• Staff from the county’s social services department


• Staff from the city’s foster family agency


• Someone with community needs assessment experience


• Heads of homeless service centers in the area


• Mental health and substance abuse workers


• Property owners


• A realtor


• Local housing directors


• A low-income housing expert


• A lawyer

By making connections to others in your community at this early stage, you lay the foundation for future support.