Programs & Services

Independence is not one thing — it is a dozen things working together. A young person can have a job but lose it because they have no car; have a room but lose it because they have no income. That is why The People Union provides wrap-around support that addresses every pillar of a stable life at once, for young adults ages 18–28 leaving foster care or incarceration in California.

Housing First

Nothing else works without a safe place to sleep. We provide affordable transitional housing where young people can stay while they stabilize, train, and save — with clear milestones that lead to independent living. Housing partners, landlords, and property owners: we would love to talk with you.

Food & Personal Essentials

No one can rebuild a life while hungry. Residents and program participants receive groceries, hot meals, hygiene and personal care items, clothing for work and interviews, and the everyday essentials most of us take for granted.

Transportation & The Keys Program

In California, no car often means no job. Our transportation support begins with bus passes and ride assistance, then goes further than most programs ever do: we help each young person study for and earn their driver’s license, and — through our Keys Program — we help them purchase their first reliable used car through matched savings and donated vehicles. A set of keys is more than transportation; it is proof that a new life is really happening.

Job Training & Employment

We prepare young people for real careers, not just first paychecks: vocational skills training, resume and interview coaching, financial literacy, and placement with employer partners who believe in second chances. If you are an employer willing to hire and mentor, you can change the entire trajectory of a young life.

Life Skills & Documents

Many of the young people we serve have never been taught to open a bank account, read a lease, or file taxes — and many leave state systems without even a birth certificate or ID in hand. We walk with them through documents, budgeting, credit, health care enrollment, and the hundred small skills of adult life.

Spiritual Support & Mentorship

Houses and jobs rebuild circumstances; hope rebuilds people. Rooted in the Greek Orthodox Christian tradition, we offer one-on-one mentorship, community, pastoral care, and — for those who wish — prayer and worship. Participation is always voluntary and our services are open to all faiths and backgrounds, because love that comes with conditions is not love.

How to Enroll

If you are 18–28 and aging out of foster care or reentering after incarceration in California — or you are a social worker, probation officer, or chaplain referring a young person — please reach out through our Contact page or apply through the Register page. We will respond within 3 business days.