2 days ago
Dayton realtors support former foster youth with collection drive
Previous coverage on local services for homeless youth.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – Aging out of foster care can be a remarkably difficult and stressful situation to navigate. Dayton Realtors is doing something to help these young adults here in the Miami Valley.
According to the National Foster Youth Institute, approximately 20,000 people between the ages of 18 and 21 age out of the foster care system annually.
On Wednesday, June 11, Dayton Realtors held a 'Furnishing Futures' donation drive focusing on aiding young men who have aged out of foster care.
Toiletries, new tools, cleaning supplies, household goods and more were collected to benefit Disciples of Destiny, which provides housing and support for men aged 18 through 26 who have been emancipated from foster care and are facing homelessness.
Dayton Realtors said it hopes to make a difference in the lives of these young men.
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These guys are often left with no support system once they age out; many face homelessness and food insecurity. Navigating young adulthood without any external support.
2 NEWS spoke with Nieberding about this critical work at the collection drive. He cited a desire to do more in retirement and his strong religious beliefs to help his community. He said the data on those aging out of foster care shocked him.
'I saw the statistic where '40% of youth who come out of foster care at age 18, are automatically homeless' and often are lured into the sex trades in order to get food and lodging — what we take for granted,' said Nieberding. 'Then, within a short two years, 60% of them end up in state prisons. I said, This is a tremendous amount of loss, and potential.'
(The specific study he saw is unclear; however, he is likely referencing the 1995 National Alliance to End Homelessness survey. Now, in 2025, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, that number is approximately 25 percent. Which shows the critical work that has been done and continues to need to be done to lower it further.)
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He shared they're collecting 'just about anything you would need for your life' for these young men. Things the average person might not even realize they use daily, like cooking and cleaning utensils.
'Also, gift cards or various things for the guys to buy stuff,' said Nieberding. 'We can use them as rewards for when guys do good behavior or turn in all their paperwork for their self-discovery work on helping them to get their lives back.'
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He spoke on the success of the program. On how overwhelmingly joyful it is to see a young life changed for the better because someone took the time to care.
'Disciples of Destiny is here to help. To anybody who needs that age, 18 to 26, we primarily care for guys, but we also care for women. We can help them, not with the living situation, but we can do a referral. We also often them [young women] groups to be a part of it,' said Nieberding.
For state-wide resources for former foster youths, click here.
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