Editor

Representatives of Grace Landing, a faith-based nonprofit that intends to provide living space for young men 18 to 23 who have aged out of the state foster care system, signed a lease Monday with Osceola County for a home the county owns at 1864 Boggy Creek Road.

Founded by Juda Attkisson, Grace Landing will teach life and independent living skills and “a strong work ethic” to six young men staying at the facility, according to the nonprofit’s business plan. Life skills would include cooking, cleaning, health and nutrition, relationships, job skills, leadership, goal setting, time management and how to budget, invest and save.

The home will open Monday, April 19, and Attkisson will be the facility’s paid director. The nonprofit will initially lease the property (a one-story, 2,584-square-foot single-family dwelling on approximately 1 acre) for $1 a year for two years. The nonprofit will cover the costs of utilities at the home and to maintain the property.

Young men staying at the facility would have to pay $450 rent per month, which would include utilities and the skills training; food would be extra.

Last year, according to Attkisson, 63 people aged out of state foster care system in the county, 29 females and 34 males, and in the first six months of 2010 there will be 53 aging out, 31 males and 22 females.

Attkisson said there are very few alternatives in the county for these young people, adding that the state provides a financial incentive for them to stay in school full-time, but few services are provided to help them do that.

“They either have to have a roommate or rent a room. They also have to lie about being a full-time student in order to rent an apartment because owners do not want to rent to high school or college students,” Attkisson stated in her business plan. “The isolated experiences of living in an apartment does not provide these youth with the life skills or moral development they need to make a successful transition to adulthood.”

Attkisson also said her role as director would include finding adult connections for the residents, visiting their schools and talking with teachers so that the help they need to stay in school, graduate and go on to college or a career will be provided.

Grace Landing also will work with nonprofits and businesses to help residents find work or internships, Attkisson said. And the teaching of life skills, for example, will include how to sign a lease and maintain a home or buying a car and car insurance.

Spiritual growth

to be encouraged

Attkisson in her business plan stated the first priority for Grace Landing is for the residents to experience the “fullness of God’s love.”

“We will encourage spiritual growth and a personal relationship with God. We will assist them (residents) with moral decisions that are made every day and teach character traits, such as honesty, obedience, perseverance and respect. This will be done through weekly Bible studies and monthly fellowship nights.”

When asked whether residents would be required to attend church or Bible studies, Attkisson explained they will not be required to but there are certain things the nonprofit stands for and “the youth have a choice about whether or not they want to live at the home. The home is open to anyone.”

On the application form to Grace Landing, prospective residents are asked whether they are sexually active. Attkisson said the question is asked because many of these youth become parents after aging out of the foster care system and she wants them to focus on their education and find a career before starting a family.

“We also want them to be educated on sexually transmitted diseases and the consequences of becoming a parent before they are financially and emotionally ready,” she said.

The home also would offer incentives, such as gift cards, to residents who stay within their budgets, stay in school and do their part in the home to keep it clean. Residents also could receive incentives by volunteering 10 hours a week with some other nonprofit.

Two college students also would be invited to stay at the home and they would help teach the life skills classes and essentially act as resident assistants in lieu of paying rent.

On Grace Landing’s business plan, Attkisson mentions a $10,000 annual contribution from the Sheriff's Office as part of the anticipated budget. She said she has asked for $10,000 from the agency’s forfeiture funds because statistics show that more than 50 percent of aged-out youth end up in jail or homeless.

“This year in Osceola County, 36 youth are aging out. That means at least 18 will be homeless or in jail. The sheriff can use these funds for programs that prevent crimes. I think we qualify,” she said.

Attkisson also said the nonprofit is working to start a home for young women who have aged out of the foster system.

Board of directors

The board of directors for the nonprofit includes Connie Click, Tony Buchanan, Chris Fudge, Jennifer Woollet  and Lyle Bundy, all of Kissimmee. Incorporation papers were filed in June of 2009. The mailing address for the nonprofit is 4231 Kissimmee Park Road, St. Cloud, which also is Attkisson’s home.

The registered agent for the nonprofit is The Law Offices of John Stemberger, Orlando. Stemberger also is the president and general counsel for the conservative Florida Family Policy Council, which is associated with Focus on the Family.