NYS Senator Jeremy Cooney, County Executive Adam Bello, HUB585 Announce New Housing Pilot Program for Rochester Youth

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Miles Cunning, Communications Director, cunning@nysenate.gov, 585-362-1532 

NYS SENATOR JEREMY COONEY, COUNTY EXECUTIVE ADAM BELLO, HUB 585 ANNOUNCE NEW HOUSING PILOT PROGRAM FOR ROCHESTER YOUTH

(ROCHESTER, NY) - Today, NYS Senator Jeremy Cooney (D-Rochester), County Executive Adam Bello (D-Monroe), and Dr. Ashley Cross (The HUB585) announced a new housing pilot program to support young adults in Rochester aging out of the foster care system. 

The Transitional Living Foster Home Pilot Program will provide long-term housing for teenagers in and aging out of the foster care system. This project includes the purchase of a large single-family home in the City of Rochester, funding of $300,000 was secured by Senator Cooney for the home purchase and renovation. 

The HUB585 will employ a licensed Monroe County Foster Parent to live in the home, each child living in the home remains under the care of Monroe County and will receive all traditional case management services and supports related to safety, permanency, and well-being from their Monroe County Caseworker. 

Residents will receive educational support, life skills training, tutoring, and mentoring at The HUB585’s Hope Center. Through their collaboration with other community partners the HUB will provide counseling (individual and group), case management, and GED/credit recovery resources for our youth. Additionally, the HUB585 will oversee the supervision and maintenance of the property and provide additional programming and educational support beyond what the foster home level of care traditionally provides for each foster youth residing in the home. Each teen will be partnered with a volunteer mentor team through the HUB’s Life Launch program. Pregnant and parenting teens will also be accepted and receive services through community partnerships.

If we want to build a brighter future in Rochester, we have to support innovative ideas to support our youth,” Said Senator Jeremy Cooney. “Creative thinkers like Dr. Cross represent the best of our community, and I am proud to have secured funding from New York State and join in partnership with Monroe County. I look forward to watching this program grow and succeed, and remain ready to assist in any way possible.”

“Ensuring our young people who are aging out of the foster care system have a home,  a safe place to eat, sleep, learn and grow is paramount to their finding success in life,” Said Monroe County Executive Adam Bello. “Thank you to Senator Cooney, Dr. Ashley Cross, Hub 585 and the entire Monroe County Department of Human Services for your continued success in helping our families and young people.”

"At The Hub585, we believe that all youth can thrive when provided with a community of hope and healing where every child has a champion. This is what we aim to do through this project," said Dr. Ashley Cross, Founder & Executive Director of HUB585. "Over the past four years, The Hub585 and Monroe County Child Welfare have worked well together to address the complex needs of youth in foster care. This home will continue to strengthen that partnership as we provide layers of support for both the youth in foster care and the foster parents helping them navigate their transition to adulthood."

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