The James Storehouse Incorporated

Essential Resources: James Storehouse offers free resourcing with the intent of empowering fostering caregivers taking a child into their home, providing children in foster care with everything needed to feel safe and loved, helping biological parents safely reunify with their children, and preventing children from entering foster care simply due to poverty. Depending on the needs of the individual, we provide every resource needed to live sustainably including: furniture, clothing, diapers, food, toys, bedding, home goods, appliances, car seats, strollers, toiletries, etc. at no cost. In 2022, James Storehouse provided 16,151 appointments and deliveries for children in foster care, children at-risk of removal, youth aging out of foster care, formerly trafficked youth, and all their caregiving families in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties at our Resource Center, averaging around 1,345 per month. Resourcing these families relieves extreme financial and emotional burdens of caring for the most vulnerable children in our community.Transitional Housing: When youth in foster care turn 18 years old, they are left to fend for themselves, often becoming homeless within weeks of their birthday. The James Storehouse Transitional Home is a safe place to land in a beautiful, dignifying haven to call home for females who have aged out of foster care, ages 18-22 years old. This home not only gives youth stable housing, but it also provides a trauma-informed, nurturing environment, and mentorship from a live-in James Storehouse staff member. With an extra crutch of support during these critical young adult years, these young people can thrive and transition successfully to complete independence of their own.Transportation: Reliable transportation is one of the biggest gaps in care for our teens and youth aging out of foster care. Youth often lack accessible transportation to get to and from work, school, and doctor appointments, creating major barriers for successful independence. In 2022, we provided 6 gently-used cars and 84 bikes donated by generous community members at no cost for eligible aged-out youth. Before a vehicle is presented, we work with each youths social worker to ensure they are prepared for the responsibility of owning a vehicle and then we assist them with completing vehicle paperwork and car insurance of their own. With reliable transportation, youth are set up for success in their future schooling or career endeavors.