view file photoLarry, an 18-year-old homeless youth, talks with Kathleen Boutin, founder of the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth, in December 2007.
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It was a standard news article, nothing special. The words didn't jump off the page. There was no chorus of voices to denote that the information contained would spark a change that would transform the lives of one-time Clark County foster children forever.
But, after director of housing programs for the Las Vegas Housing Authority Deloris Sawyer read the statistic that 25 percent of youth who "age out" of foster care end up homeless, that's exactly what happened.
"I couldn't believe that number was so high," Sawyer said. "Not that any percentage would be acceptable. But, I thought about what the housing authority could do to take proactive measures in aiding prospective homeless youth."
Sawyer crafted the concept of a program that would help foster care youth who are shown the door at 18 years old, with no family or skills to fall back on.
The result is a pilot program adopted in cooperation with Clark County Social Services and the housing authority, which officials hope will aid foster youth in a transition to independence.
"Housing will essentially be provided to 10 young adults who are leaving the system," Sawyer said. "They will be placed at the top of a waiting list for the federal Section-8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. Once they qualify, the assistance can last up to three years, so long as they are meeting program requirements."
The aid will be available to young adults ages 18 to 23. While the program's goal is to help these at-risk youth avoid the pitfalls of homeless adulthood, Sawyer said that it is not a free ride.
"Things will be expected of them," she said. "And measures are in place to monitor their progress and ensure that the program isn't being abused."
Participants will be required to enroll in self-sufficiency courses offered through Clark County Family Services, where they will learn job-training skills and budgeting, among other things.
"I think this is definitely a step in the right direction," said Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth founder Kathleen Boutin. "The only way that a program like this can have long-term success is by providing those types of supportive services. Many of the kids that leave foster care don't have the skills they need to survive, let alone lead a fulfilling, productive life."
Many former wards of the state end up back in abusive family situations or on the streets, according to Boutin.
"There's a fine line between empowering and enabling," Boutin said. "And I think that as long as the program is closely monitored, there's a chance for success."
According to Clark County Social Services, the agency that will be assigning case workers and policing the program on a monthly basis, about 100 youth age out of Las Vegas foster care facilities every year.
Lloyd Womack aged out of foster care almost 12 years ago, and while he said he has been one of the lucky ones, he admits that the first seven years on his own were rough.
"I didn't end up homeless," he said. "But that's because I've always been pretty quick to think on my feet, and I have a good work ethic. Some of the kids who leave the system are pretty messed up, and they don't know where to turn or who to trust. I have some old friends that would have really benefited from a program like this one."
Housing authority board member Patrick Smith said the agency is always looking for new and innovative ways to use Section-8 vouchers, and he applauds Sawyer for coming up with the concept.
"This was a wonderful idea," Smith said. "There's always a level of emotion that goes along with talking about young people in a bad situation. I think this program has the potential to change a lot of lives."
Smith said he believes the key to the program's success will be trial and error, and approaching cases on an individual basis.
"You have to keep an open mind," he said. "You can plan thoroughly, but you still have to allow for the fact that you can't predict the future."
Participants will be encouraged to work and or go to school, and once he or she has demonstrated the ability to pay 100 percent of the rent independently, participation in the program will be self-terminated, according to Sawyer.
"If the pilot is successful, we plan to push to expand the program," assistant county manager Darryl Martin said. "It's a wonderful program designed to aid kids who are vulnerable to lifestyles that may not be in their best interests, and I think this gives them the kind of head start they need to begin a fulfilled adult life." "We hope that this will be a model for similar programs nationwide," Sawyer said. "We're very excited. We hope, we think it will do well. There's nothing else like this in the country."
The program is projected to begin sometime this summer.
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