A historic building in downtown Stockton is set to become a beacon of hope for foster youth transitioning to adulthood. Thanks to a $1.5 million grant from the city, the Ruhl Building on Main Street will be converted into low-income housing for young people aging out of the foster care system.
Parents by Choice, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting foster children, will lead the project, transforming the second and third floors of the 101-year-old building to create housing for 22 former foster youth. The nonprofit's CEO, Tony Yadon, emphasized the significance of the project, noting that the building has been mostly empty for decades and will now serve a vital purpose in the community.
"It's real exciting for downtown," said Michael Huber, executive director of the Downtown Stockton Alliance. He hopes that the project will complement existing low-income housing and attract other amenities to the area.
The new housing aims to address a major gap for foster youth transitioning to independence. Andrea Rodriguez, Youth Workforce Manager at Parents by Choice, highlighted the struggles faced by many young adults after they age out of the system. "I do get calls even when they're like 24, 25... 'Hey, I'm sleeping in my car right now. Is there anything you guys can do?' And we're kind of limited," she said.
Former foster youth Alyssa Castellanos shared her experience of facing homelessness at 18, emphasizing the importance of stable housing. "This is a great opportunity for these children and the youth to take advantage of because they won't face homelessness, and they won't worry about where to sleep at night," she said.
Nonprofit leaders hope to have a clearer timeline for renovations and costs by December, with plans to open the housing units within two years. For many, including Rodriguez, the prospect of giving foster youth their own space is a dream come true: "Having just their own space would mean the world to them."
