LAS VEGAS -- Foster kids in our state have limited resources available to them once they age out of system. But a new housing facility will offer them a place to stay, and teach them skills they need to survive.
"My intent is to one day go to law school and become a children's advocate for foster youth," said Miriya Lawrence who has been raised in foster care.
UNLV freshman Miriya Lawrence has big dreams but getting to college hasn't been easy. She was raised in foster care after her father left her family and her mom gave up her parental rights.
"For me it was a wonderful experience. It was way better than being with my biological family by far." Today she lives on campus and goes to school thanks to a scholarship. But she's the exception.
"When you exit care, you are completely cut off, there are no more services, you lose financial assistance," said Lawrence. Just like many others, when she turned 18, she was cut off from the state.
"Now you have foster youth going to stand in line at social services at the welfare office to get help and no 19-year-old, no 20-year-old, no 18-year-old wants to go do that," Lawrence said.
St. Jude's Ranch Crossing is hoping to help foster kids who no longer qualify for assistance by building a housing facility near Tropicana Ave. and McLeod Dr.
"They will get real life skills, real life experience. Each resident will be managing their own studio apartment so they will be responsible for taking care of it," said Christina Vela, St. Jude's Ranch.
She is the campus director of the new property and says what they offer will be free of charge for those making an effort to better themselves.
"We are a short-term supported housing project with the end goal of transitioning young adults into permanent stable housing in our community."
St. Jude's Ranch Crossing is scheduled to be open by the first of next year. The county contributed $2 million in funding through stimulus money.
