Each year thousands of children nationwide leave foster care at age 18 or 19 without any formal connection to families and as a result they often become homeless. Without family, financial or emotional support, these young adults lack basic education, have few marketable skills and have little experience living on their own.
Unity Care's Transitional Housing Placement Plus Program(THP-Plus) offers affordable and stable housing to young adults ages 18-24, while they focus on attending school, receiving job training, securing sustainable employment, or learning and practicing skills for independent living. Youth can choose to live in housing located throughout Santa Clara County or with a roommate in a 2-bedroom unit at Unity Place, a 12-unit apartment complex located in the Willow Glen area of San Jose. Unity Place is owned and operated by Unity Care.
THP-Plus services are tailored to fit the individual circumstances of the young adult in order to provide the greatest possibility of success. Services include:
- JOB READINESS: Includes vocational assessment, assistance with acquiring employment, developing interview skills, nurturing marketable skills, and learning professionalism.
- EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE: Includes academic assessments, GED preparations, assistance in college admissions including completion of college applications, tutorial assistance, assistance with accessing scholarships and financial aid, and helping youth develop good study habits.
- FINANCIAL PLANNING: Includes budgeting, bill paying, and opening bank accounts.
- INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS: Includes housekeeping, shopping, meal preparation and time-management skills.
- SAVINGS PROGRAM: Assists in preparing for transition into permanent independent housing.
- TREATMENT TEAM MEETINGS: Focus on developing a strengths-based transition plan for the youth.
- COUNSELING: One-on-one and group emotional support and counseling on an as-needed basis.
- CASE MANAGEMENT: The youths' needs are identified and a transition plan is designed and implemented to address those needs.
- TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE: Youth receive a monthly bus pass or a gas card to assist with traveling to appointments, work and school.
- GROCERY ASSISTANCE: Youth receive bi-weekly grocery gift card and case managers provide assistance with nutritional and menu planning.
- LIFE SKILLS TRAINING WORKSHOPS: Interactive and engaging life-skills training workshops are offered on a weekly basis.
THP-Plus Brochure
If you are interested in applying to the THP-Plus Program in Santa Clara County and would like to be placed on the County's waiting list, please fill out the THP-Plus Referral Form and fax to Santa Clara County at (408) 975-5831.
For more information about Unity Care's Transitional Housing Placement Plus Program (THP-Plus), please contact THP-Plus program staff at (408) 490-4277.