Supporting Housing Stability for Young Adults Aging Out of Foster Care

Each year, young adults aging out of foster care face the daunting challenge of finding stable housing. Many experience homelessness or instability within the first few years. Our organization has been supporting this population since 2017 through various initiatives. In 2020, we launched the Bridge Program to provide wraparound guidance and resources, and now we’re taking that support to the next level.

Recently, we testified before the Michigan House Appropriations Committee in support of funding to redevelop the former Plaza Hotel into apartment housing designed for young adults transitioning from foster care. Smaller operations like this exist across the country, often serving 10 to 12 youth, but nothing of this scale exists anywhere in the nation.

The redevelopment will feature 400 square foot studio apartments, modest to most but life-changing for a young person who’s been living in a car or couch surfing, alongside one and two bedroom units. The 60,000 square feet of lobby, dining room, and ballroom will transform into vibrant community spaces, while the top 30,000 square feet will be leased as office space to help subsidize costs.

With a mix of rent and housing vouchers, sustainable design features, and collaboration with Oakland County for crisis shelter, this project will create a true continuum of care, offering not just housing but hope and opportunity.

Watch the highlights from our testimony below.