Kanye West: Plan A

50% of the nations homeless population has spent time in foster care.

HALF.

I know... you weren't expecting that. Neither was I.

That means an estimated 290,233 of the 580,466 homeless people in the US were at one point put in foster care. They have suffered abandonment (including death and incarceration of a parent), neglect, and/ or abuse. This usually leads to people becoming homeless at a younger age and remaining homeless for a longer period of time.

To quote some statistics from a Foster Focus article written by Shalita O’neal:

• Approximately 400,000 youth are currently in foster care in the United States.

• Approximately 20,000 of those youth age-out each year without positive familial supports or any family connection at all.

• 65% of the youth leaving foster care need immediate housing upon discharge.

• Within 18 months of emancipation 40-50% of foster youth become homeless.

There are many people that dedicate their time and resources to help our at risk youth and young adults transition into independence. They provide emergency/transitional housing, mental health support, employment assistance, and connection to supportive networks.

One person looking to make an impact is none other than Kanye West.

Through his Plan A initiative, Ye plans to change the connotations of orphanages and foster care, creating environments that expecting families can go to for help.

Here is what we know:

Mission:

Provide Sanctuary for those that choose Plan A

Approach:

Supporting Mothers/ Families:

• Provide a place to safely experience pregnancy & birth.

• Programing includes therapy (multi disciplinary) & Education (entrepreneurship, parenting, personal development).

• Offer stipends, childcare and career opportunities.

Rehoming:

• Sustaining life for children @ Birthday Lake (Temporary/ Long-Term)

High Quality Education:

• RIE Based Education

• Music, Art, Stem, and Ecology

Farm to table nutrition program

Access to Wellcare

• Healthcare,

• Holistic prevention

• Emotional intelligence

Income Generation:

• Production and sales of handmade textiles using mushroom plastics

• Market produce

• Value added goods

  • Wildcraft & herbal products.

If and when this comes to reality, Plan A has the ability to impact the lives of thousands if not millions or dare I say billions.

A program that promotes family, community, independence, education, and well-being on a national scale, would help keep families together and ultimately aid in the prevention of homelessness.

And to be honest, even though my preorder date for Donda has changed four times, I'd be completely ok if we got Plan A first.

-

Jaime

Art Credit: Michelle Lopez/ IG: @curlsandwords_