PORTLAND, Maine — According to official recent U.S. Census data, there are more than 2,000 kids in foster care in Maine.
About 100 kids age out of the system annually when they turn 18 and become a legal adult, but some can extend state care services until they are 21 years old.
A federally funded program is helping keep dozens of young adults from ending up on the streets as they transition into adulthood.
Before the age of 9, Calix Saucier was constantly on the move.
"Going to foster families, trying to reunify with my mom, not working out, going back to foster homes, and it was a lot of back and forth," Calix explained.
After moving around for most of his childhood, Calix finally found stability in a group home, and he reunited with his mom at age 15.
But he left two years later, ended up back in a group home, then later moved in with his aunt.
After graduating from Noble High School at the age of 18, he faced being homeless. He had aged out of the foster care system.
"I can't live with family forever," he recalled. "I can't do this forever."
A case manager helped him apply for a housing voucher through the Portland Housing Authority's Foster Youth to Independence Initiative. Within two months, he had a furnished apartment. It was a place to call his own for the first time.
"It was exciting for me to have my own life, separate from what it had been like, someone watching over me the whole time," Calix added.
The Portland Housing Authority partnered with the Quality Housing Coalition to help youth leaving foster care access social and other key services, such as health care.
"A significant number of young adults had some major health issues that had never been addressed or dealt with but now have providers," Leah Bruns, the deputy director of the Portland Housing Authority, explained.
Victoria Morales, an attorney and former state representative, founded the nonprofit and serves as the Executive Director. The organization helps house people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. She said the program works to build new connections as youth enter adulthood and stand on their own two feet.
"Is it education? Is it jobs? is it reconnecting with family members? Is it reconnecting with friends? How can we bridge that?" Morales said.
That's where Austin Pine, QHC's Foster Youth to Independence housing navigator, steps in.
Austin works with two dozen youth, helping them apply for jobs, get a driver's license, fill out paperwork, and pursue their dreams.
"Many want to pursue employment or education opportunities, so I have attended meetings at [Southern Maine Community College] with clients," Austin said.
The program has helped 40 Maine youth with housing and other programs over the past several years. The program is only available for three years, but Portland Housing works with clients to keep their housing. Calix, now 21, has worked in retail and is considering college.
"I am proud of myself and happy to have the support that I have because I never thought I would get here," Calix enthused.
Quality Housing Coalition and the Portland Housing Authority are working to expand the program to youth who are at risk of entering the criminal justice system.