Impact

The Victory Lap model leverages the high fixed costs of senior living providers (SLPs) to provide safe, supportive, and cost-effective housing for at-risk young people, along with ready access to careers in healthcare, culinary arts, facilities maintenance, sales, accounting and administration. The SLP reaps the financial benefits of the substantial subsidies this youth population receives, as well as a decrease in turnover and shift vacancy due to the youth living on-site. The integration of youth also provides a competitive edge, as 85% of seniors say they would rather move to an intergenerational community than to an “old folks’ home”. Seniors thrive on interaction with young people, and the chance to help heal the hearts and jumpstart the futures of these fragile young Americans provides a sense of purpose at a time when many feel the world no longer needs them.

Under The Victory Lap model, the social services agency holds the state's license to provide independent living services to transition age foster youth. The agency supports the youth with case management, educational attainment and soft skills development and pays the SLP a substantial cut of the state’s daily board rate for the provision of housing, meals, utilities, cable/wi-fi, job training and a minimum of 10 hours per week of paid work. Of course, the youth have to pass the same background checks as any other staff member.