HAY Center Foundation

See Schedule OThe HAY Center Housing Continuum allows youth to find safe, stable housing to meet their educational, employment, and mental health goals.o Bridge Housing is a program that provides youth with a rent-free place to live while youth participate in intensive case management, wrap-around services, and life skills training. Youth work towards obtaining employment and/or training to gain marketable job skills while preparing to live independently.o Housing Options is a public/private venture between the HAY Center, the HAY Center Foundation, and the Houston Housing Authority. Youth are provided with housing vouchers provided by the Houston Housing Authority. The HAY Center Foundation provides deposits, first month's rent, utility assistance, and other expenses needed for youth to move into an apartment. Youth work with staff to gain employment, education, and essential life skills. The goal is that youth will be prepared to obtain their own housing and live independently. From 2021-2022, the HAY Center participated in a Pandemic Aid Relief program where youth were provided assistance to help with housing, education, and other basic needs.

The TRANSITION COACHING program matches a caring, responsible adult volunteer with youth preparing to "age out" of the foster care system. The coach helps the youth develop a transition plan as they explore options for higher education and/or employment. The goal is to lessen the risk these youth often face: homelessness, unemployment, early parenthood, or criminal records. Academic Coaching provides a curriculum focusing on tutoring and executive functioning for youth in foster care.

See Schedule OYouth Engagement and Enhanced Life Skills Workshops allow youth to have a voice at the table, interact with HAY Center staff and volunteers and learn much-needed life skills. Enhanced life skills include financial literacy, job readiness, parenting, meal preparation, housing, and other areas identified by our youth. o Holiday Event is a December celebration where former foster youth and their family of choice attend a fun-filled event while connecting with adults outside the CPS system. Unfortunately, youth are often disconnected from family and have no place to celebrate special times of the year. The HAY Center and staff step in to fill the void.o Prom Preparation Event helps high school students in foster care get prepared for proms - an evening they might not otherwise be able to afford. Matched with volunteer shoppers, youth are mentored through shopping and life skills needed when attending a special event.o Graduation is a celebration of the academic success of youth. Youth are celebrated and provided gifts of household and education necessities to promote independent living success.o College Preparation Events consist of participation in college information sessions and college tours along with information and training to prepare for a successful transition to college or university.o Thanksgiving is a special event where youth can come together and enjoy a traditional holiday meal in a relaxed atmosphere.

Education and Workforce support fills in where public contracts do not allow funding. Youth are provided with the support needed (books and fees, tuition, training, uniforms) to work towards their education and employment goals. College Tours allows youth to explore their post-secondary education options as juniors in high school so that planning can take place before graduation. College Bound Experience provides a simulated first day of college interactive event for youth leaving for college.