The Independent Living Programme for young people who have grown out of foster care has been deemed a success after a year of operations.

Tinée Furbert, the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, told the House of Assembly on Friday that the programme had helped many young adults to get on their feet with the assistance of supplementary programmes such as Level Up.

She said: “Without the Independent Living Programme, all the residents would have been homeless and had experienced a sense of hopelessness.

“They have limited to no family support. Two are orphaned, having lost both parents, one has lost one parent, and the others have no connection with either parent.

“They have described the programme as a saving grace that has provided them the opportunity to have a stable home environment and support as they navigate the challenges and demands of adulting.”

The Independent Living Programme allows young adults who have grown out of Department of Child and Family Services care to stay in a 24-hour dormitory called Garrison View.

They are coached on healthy decision-making while given the freedom to manage their own money, cook their own meals and apply for jobs.

Ms Furbert said that last year’s cohort accepted eight out of ten youngsters from the Level Up Programme, which teaches youngsters six months away from their 18th birthday.

The Level Up Programme had its first participant move into Garrison View in August last hear after graduating high school in June.

She registered with the Department of Workforce Development in September and found work shortly after.

Ms Furbert said that by her 18th birthday in October, she was able to get her motorcycle licence and purchased a second-hand bike, and started paying rent by November.

At present, Garrison View accommodates nine people and will soon hold 11 people as the Bermuda Housing Corporation adds two more rooms after renovations.

Ms Furbert said that the dorm had been in use since last February, with its first resident, a woman aged 19, joining through the Independent Living Programme just before the dorm’s official opening in March.

She added that although the woman later moved out in June, she was approved for financial assistance while staying at Garrison View and is now registered with the Department of Health as a nursing assistant.

Ms Furbert said that each youngster completes a life skills assessment that looks at their behaviours and helps them to create a strong long-term plan with goals.

She added: “Each of these residents will continue to participate in the programme’s life skills groups.

“Our young persons each have individual goals that are reviewed every three months to determine if the goals have been achieved and whether new ones need to be identified.

“One resident recently identified a new goal and enrolled in an online approved childcare certification programme.”

The Independent Living Programme will work with Pocket Change, a business that offers financial education to young adults.

The programme has also hired two support workers, lessening the need for two security shifts.

Its co-ordinator and assistant co-ordinator, Charmaine Richardson and Zina Francis, attended the 35th National Independent Living Conference to find out ways to run a better independent living programme.