Broward Housing Solutions Breaks Ground on Coral Springs’ Property for Aged Out Foster Youth

Broward Housing Solutions is helping to find solutions for young adults “aging out” the foster care system.  As reported in the news media, many young adults leave their foster care homes without the resources or skills to thrive independently and become productive citizens.

Broward Housing Solutions, teamed with SOS Children’s Village of South Florida, is helping those who have “graduated” from the system, especially those working to overcome mental illness.

A non-profit organization that provides affordable housing for mental health consumers in Broward County, Broward Housing Solutions will build Woodside Gardens, a three-unit complex on Woodside Drive in Coral Springs that will house six young adults previously in foster care.  SOS Children’s Village will provide life coaching services to these individuals.

A ground breaking ceremony recently took place at Woodside Gardens with a myriad of city and county officials as well as community partners, friends and supporters in attendance.  Now that all the approvals are in place and 100 percent of the funding to build and develop the complex has been acquired, construction is slated to begin in 2006.

To develop the property, Broward Housing Solutions was awarded $269,137 from Broward County and $54,224 from the City of Coral Springs. In addition, The Jim Moran Foundation provided $19,504 to fund first year operating expenses.

“We thank the community – particularly the City of Coral Springs, Broward County and The Jim Moran Foundation – for helping us bring this complex to life,” said Nancy Merolla, President and CEO of Broward Housing Solutions.  “By providing housing for young adults with mental health issues, we’re giving them a foundation for stable lives and enabling them to integrate into the community.”

This Broward Housing Solutions’ initiative, “Housing Solutions for Young Adults,” includes partnerships with SOS Children’s Village and Henderson Mental Health Center.  Broward Housing Solutions is helping to provide the next step in a continuum of care for these young adults who have faced rough childhoods with limited options.