Every year, thousands of young people in California turn 18 and walk out of the foster care system, or out of a jail cell, with no family waiting, no home to return to, and no one to call. The People Union exists so that none of them has to build a life alone.
Most of us had someone. A parent who co-signed a first apartment. A relative who taught us to drive. A family table to come back to when things fell apart. Young people aging out of foster care and young adults leaving incarceration have none of that.
Without that support the pattern is painfully predictable: no address, no way to get to work, no first job, and for far too many a return to the street or to a cell. These are not statistics about strangers. They are our neighbors: young Californians between 18 and 28 whose only failing was being born into circumstances they never chose. The gap between them and a stable life is not talent or willpower. It is the practical support of a family: a room, a ride, a job, and someone who believes in them.
We step into the family role for young adults ages 18–28 leaving foster care or incarceration: a safe place to live, food and everyday essentials, a way to get around, hands-on job training, and a mentor who stays. Our Greek Orthodox Christian faith is why we serve; our doors are open to young people of every background and belief.
The People Union was founded in 2020 and holds federal tax-exempt status. Today we are launching our first direct-service programs in California, with a vision to expand nationwide as resources grow. That means the donors who join us now are not just supporters. They are founders. Your gift builds the first homes, funds the first driver’s licenses, and opens the first doors. And through our Transparency page, you will see exactly where every dollar goes.