Part 3/10:
As Ben approaches his 18th birthday, the looming transition out of foster care becomes evident. “You’re going to age out and that means you have to do that program,” emphasizes a supportive figure in his life, an adult who has taken an interest in his wellbeing. This impending age-out period signifies the beginning of a daunting new chapter — one marked by uncertainty, potential homelessness, and a stark reality devoid of familial support.
The narrative poignantly captures the harsh statistics: “Between 800 and 1,000 kids who are about to age out of foster care wind up homeless immediately.” Such revelations create an atmosphere steeped in urgency as Ben grapples with his fate.