When foster youth turn 18, the door to the system closes behind them.
No more caseworker. No more placement. No more safety net.
Within 18 months, nearly 50% face homelessness.
At AcademySTAY, we open a different door.
For less than $50 a day — the cost of a tank of gas — a student gets a stable apartment and wraparound care while they pursue college degrees or vocational training.
100% of our students are enrolled in post-secondary education. Not by chance. By design. It's a condition of residency — because education is the pathway to self-determination.
We Just Opened 10,000 Doors
We reached a milestone in March 2026: 10,000 safe nights of housing provided since we opened in October 2024.
That's 10,000 nights students didn't have to choose between rent and groceries. 10,000 nights they could study at their own kitchen table instead of a shelter cot.
What 10,000 Nights Means to Our Students
The Math Is Clear
AcademySTAY: <$50/day Emergency shelter: $95/day California incarceration: $364/day
Every $1 invested in extended foster care returns $3.95 in lifetime outcomes (Washington State Institute for Public Policy).
This isn't charity. It's investment in young leaders.
Your gift is matched, dollar for dollar, through May 7.
That means your $50 funds two safe nights. Your $250 funds ten. The match is active now. Don't leave impact on the table.
Big Day of Giving: Open 500 More Doors
May 7, 2026 is Big Day of Giving. We're raising $25,000 — and thanks to a generous matching sponsor, every dollar you give will be DOUBLED.
That means:
Your $50 becomes $100 = 2 safe nights of housing
Your $250 becomes $500 = 10 safe nights
Your $500 becomes $1,000 = 20 safe nights
We're raising $25,000 from donors like you. Our matching sponsor will match it dollar-for-dollar. Together, that's $50,000 total impact — opening 1,000 safe nights for students building their futures.
How many doors will you open?
Your Gift Opens Doors (Impact Doubled)
Your Gift
Total Impact (With Match)
Safe Nights Funded
$50
$100
2 safe nights
$100
$200
4 safe nights
$250
$500
10 safe nights
$500
$1,000
20 safe nights
$1,000
$2,000
40 safe nights
$2,500
$5,000
100 safe nights = Full semester for 1 student
$12,500
$25,000
500 safe nights = HALF OUR TOTAL IMPACT
What does $50,000 provide?
With your $25,000 in donations matched dollar-for-dollar, we'll provide 1,000 safe nights of housing — rent, utilities, groceries, and one-on-one support for students pursuing degrees and careers. That's enough to keep 20 students in stable housing for a full semester.
The match is active April 23–May 7. Don't miss your chance to double your impact.
To empower transitional-aged foster youth by providing safe housing, personalized support, and access to education — helping them build independent, self-sufficient futures.
Needs
The transition from foster care is a systemic failure. Some students receive a federal housing voucher that helps cover rent. Many receive nothing, and a current funding freeze means new vouchers are not being issued. Market rent in Sacramento exceeds $1,600, leaving students to face a housing cliff with zero resources. This gap is why 25% of Sacramento's unhoused population spent time in foster care as children. We provide safe nights of housing and one-on-one support for less than $50 a day. Your investment helps us grow to 56 students by Summer 2026. We turn instability into a launchpad.
Equity Statement
AcademySTAY is committed to building a supportive, welcoming community where every young adult has the resources and respect they need to pursue their goals. We recognize that students come from diverse backgrounds and experiences — and we celebrate the strength that comes from that diversity.