Homespace opened the Supervised Independent Living Program (SILP) in April 2008. SILP is a supervised, supportive apartment program for 18-21 year old youth in the foster care system. Some are pregnant/parenting. This program allows for youth to remain in the foster care system so that they can continue to pursue goals related to independent living while also getting the education and support to be positive, nurturing parents. There are a total of 13 townhouses and each unit has 2-3 bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, dining area, and bathroom. Our residents share a secured courtyard, laundry facility, and a family visitation/recreation room. We also have Community SILP for youth who are more independent. Our Young Person Resource & Empowerment Program (Y-PREP), is designed to serve male and female youth between the ages of 14 and 21, currently placed in foster care, young adults 21-23 who have aged out of foster care, and youth who are at-risk for entering foster care. Second Chance Home (SCH) was created in response to the unmet needs in the Buffalo community in that there was a growing number of youth were being placed in the foster care system. SCH opened in 2006 in order to provide youth between the ages of 14-21 with a safe, supportive home to raise their children in while working towards their permanency goals. SCH is comprised of eight bedrooms and a shared dining room, living room, kitchen, and bathrooms. There is a laundry facility, a nursery, and a fully-fenced backyard with a playground provided by Fisher-Price. One of the most important qualities of Second Chance Home is the atmosphere of a shared community living that takes place. Every resident contributes to the care of the home by doing daily chores and preparing meals. The focus of our Next Step program is to support clients in developing Independent Living (IL) Skills including waking one-self independently, making appointments, self-administration of medication/medication management, navigating public transportation, budgeting, cooking, meal preparation/grocery shopping, home maintenance, and communicating effectively with peers.
