In a powerful story of resilience and determination, one young man in Walden Family Services’ Transitional Housing Program has achieved a milestone many only dream of—building and owning his very first home. His journey from foster care to independence is nothing short of inspiring and reflects the incredible strength that lives within so many youth who simply need opportunity, guidance, and support.
His story began in an unsafe and unstable home environment, forcing him into the foster care system at just 15 years old. “I started foster care when I was 15 because my family was very toxic,” he recalls. “Since being here I had to learn a lot about the world, including how hard it can be, but I did it.”
After turning 18, he entered a Transitional Housing Placement Program for Non-Minor Dependents (THP-NMD), designed to help former foster youth bridge the gap to adulthood. When his former Clinical Social Worker referred him to Walden Family Services, he finally found a supportive team who believed in his potential.
Before arriving at Walden, he moved through placements that never truly felt safe or stable. At Walden, that changed. With consistent case management, life skills coaching, and emotional support, he began focusing on building a future instead of just surviving.
Walden staff helped him:
Learn financial literacy and budgeting skills
Explore employment opportunities
Develop short and long-term personal goals
Build confidence and independence
With determination and hard work, he secured full-time employment at a notary warehouse. He didn’t stop there—he also launched a small business and began saving money. He saved more than $25,000—a tremendous achievement at any age, let alone for a young person aging out of foster care.
Instead of spending his savings, he invested them in a long-term dream: he joined a tiny home program in Santa Clarita and built his own home from the ground up.
Piece by piece, wall by wall, he worked to create his space—one that reflected not only shelter but safety, ownership, and pride. “Foster care allowed me to become a self-sufficient person and introduced me to resources I did not know existed,” he said. “Most importantly, it gave me a safe space to live.”
Today, he stands as a proud homeowner, business owner, and role model for other young people in foster care. His journey is a reminder that with support, stability, and a chance, foster youth can achieve extraordinary things.
This success story is a testament not only to his determination but also to the impact of programs like Walden Family Services’ Transitional Housing Program, which empowers young adults to build independent and successful lives.
For 49 years, Walden Family Services has provided compassionate foster care, adoption, and transitional housing services to children, youth, and families throughout Southern California. Walden believes every young person deserves the chance to thrive—and stories like this remind us why this work matters.
If you’d like to support foster youth on their path to independence, click the button below.
Together, we build futures—one success story at a time.