Pasadena City College Joins Forces With Three Nonprofits to Combat Youth Homelessness

[Updated]  On July 16, First Place for Youth, Heritage Housing Partners, and Pasadena City College announced a groundbreaking partnership to provide housing for transitional age youth in Pasadena. The collaboration has transformed two existing structures at 2322 E. Foothill Blvd. into six 375-square-foot studio apartment units for young adults transitioning out of foster care.

The project will support six participants from First Place for Youth’s extended foster care program. These units will cater to transitional-aged youth between 18 and 24 experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.

Thomas G. Lee, CEO of First Place for Youth, emphasized the importance of the initiative. “Partnerships like the one between First Place for Youth, Heritage Housing Partners, and Pasadena City College are crucial in our mission to combat youth homelessness in the Los Angeles metro area,” he said. “By providing stable housing and support services, we are not only addressing immediate needs but also laying the foundation for long-term success and independence for these young adults.”

The collaboration addresses a pressing issue highlighted in UCLA’s “State of Crisis: Dismantling Student Homelessness in California” study. The report found that one in five California Community College students experience homelessness or housing insecurity, with community colleges facing the highest rates across California’s public post-secondary education systems.

Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo underscored the local significance of the project. “We have the highest concentration of young people, kids living in foster care in Pasadena and Altadena,” he stated. “A lot of the kids who are in the foster care system are in public schools and many of them end up in PCC when they graduate out of the foster care system so this is a population that we have to put a lot of focus on in terms of providing affordable housing.”

Charles Loveman, executive director of HHP, expressed optimism about the impact on residents. “These kids have experienced housing insecurity for so long,” he said. “It’s going to be a game-changer for them to have a key, lock their own door and know their possessions and space are safe.”

The development’s proximity to Pasadena City College will provide convenient access for residents pursuing their education. Pasadena City College has committed to supporting students with rent subsidies, further enhancing the project’s impact on educational opportunities for transitional age youth.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the project’s completion is now scheduled for Wednesday, August 7, 2024, at 2 p.m. at 2223 E. Foothill Blvd.