When you reflect on your successes, do you remember single moments of accomplishment? Or do you celebrate all the work you did, persevering through challenges on the way to your goal?

For young people beginning their lives after foster care, envisioning a successful future can be difficult. There is rarely a clear view of the path from where they are to where they could be. First Place for Youth gives young people the stability and support they need to begin building skills that move them closer to their goals. Because success isn’t a moment; it is a process of growth and learning where each accomplishment opens doors for the next.

Just like the youth we serve, First Place continues to grow and learn.

This year we housed more youth than ever before, moving 652 young people from homelessness or unstable living conditions into their own apartments, and providing them with comprehensive wraparound supports in education, career development, and making healthy life choices.

In Santa Clara County, we doubled our capacity and are now serving youth up to age 24, extending the runway to independence. In Los Angeles, we opened our fifth service site and are now housing over 200 youth annually. We also entered new partnerships with local governments and providers in San Francisco and Alameda Counties to reduce youth homelessness in the Bay Area. Beyond California, our My First Place™ Network continues to bring impactful services to foster youth in four states.

Even as we strive to reach more young people, we maintain focus on program practices and participant outcomes. Later in this report, you will learn about improvements we are making to our data systems and education-to-employment model.

None of this work would be possible without your support. By investing in First Place and the potential of our youth, you make the path toward real, lasting success clearer and smoother. We are so grateful to have you with us!

Sincerely,