Donate to AcademySTAY: Safe Housing for Foster Youth in Sacramento
For less than $50 a day, you keep a student housed, enrolled, and on track toward a degree.
A student in North Sacramento passed her midterms last week. She studied at her own kitchen table, in her own apartment, for the first time. She’s one of 38 students at AcademySTAY, a nonprofit providing safe, stable housing for young adults ages 18 to 24 who’ve aged out of foster care.
Every student is enrolled in college or vocational training. That’s not a goal. That’s the standard.
Your gift provides the housing, the personal guidance, and the stability that makes education possible.
What Your Gift Provides
$50
1 safe night of housing for a student
*Less than a dinner out
$350
1 week of wraparound support
*The same cost as ONE DAY of incarceration in California
$1,500
1 full month of housing + support
*Rent, utilities, groceries, and one-on-one coaching
$5,000
A full semester of stability
*Time for a student to complete 12+ units toward a credential
$18,250
One full year for one student
*Compare: $127,800 for one year of incarceration
What Your Gift Does
Give Now
Your secure, tax-deductible gift provides housing, personal guidance, and educational support for young adults transitioning from foster care in Sacramento.
Frequency
One time
Monthly
Amount
$50
$150
$350
$1,500
Other
0/250
Note or comment (optional)
Hear from our students
Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
ZUMBA - JOANNE GREEN | STUDIO 2 | TUE. AT 7:00 PM |
BALLET - KAREN KING | STUDIO 1 | TUE. AT 6:00 PM |
HIP HOP - RON JAKE | STUDIO 2 | TUE. AT 5:00 PM |
JAZZ - ACE SILVERSTEIN | STUDIO 1 | TUE. AT 4:30 PM |
“I kept showing up—to class, to work—even with no car or home. But you can’t focus on a degree when you’re wondering where you’ll sleep.” — AcademySTAY student
"I need a secure place to live, and I'm determined to make the most of it in order to realize my greatest potential." — C.W., 20
"Having stable housing would allow me to focus on school without worrying about where I'm going to sleep." — T.B., 23
Why Housing Is the Smartest Investment
AcademySTAY's model costs less than $50 per day per student, approximately $18,250 per year. That covers furnished housing, utilities, groceries, one-on-one personal guidance, and educational support. 100% of students are enrolled in college or vocational training.
Why does a housing program talk about incarceration? Because the connection is direct. Without stable housing after foster care, young adults face dramatically higher odds of entering the justice system. In California, 25% of foster youth become involved with the criminal legal system within two years of aging out (Juvenile Law Center). Each additional year of stable housing reduces the odds of arrest by 41% (Chapin Hall/CalYOUTH). Housing isn't just a place to live. It's the intervention that keeps young people on the path to a degree instead of a cell.
By comparison, an emergency shelter bed in Sacramento costs approximately $95 per day, or $34,675 per year, and only about 20% of shelter residents transition to permanent housing. Incarceration in California costs $127,800 per year, roughly $350 per day (CA Legislative Analyst's Office, FY 2025-26), and does not address the root causes that lead young people into the system.
For every $1 invested in extended foster care support, the community sees $3.95 in lifetime returns through higher earnings and reduced justice costs (Washington State Institute for Public Policy).
The Stakes in Sacramento
In Sacramento County, approximately 170 young adults age out of foster care every year. Without stable housing, the outcomes are predictable and costly:
Within 18 months of aging out, nearly 50% of California’s foster youth experience homelessness (CalYOUTH). In Sacramento, 25% of the unhoused population has a foster care background (2024 Point-in-Time Count).
93% of foster youth want to attend college. By age 23, only 4% hold a degree (CalYOUTH). The barrier isn’t motivation. It’s that you can’t study when you don’t know where you’ll sleep.
At AcademySTAY, 78% of students were unstably housed when they applied. Now they’re in stable apartments, pursuing degrees and trade certifications. 100% of AcademySTAY students are enrolled in post-secondary education or vocational training.
Since opening in October 2024, AcademySTAY has provided over 10,500 safe nights of housing to 62 young adults in North Sacramento.
About AcademySTAY
AcademySTAY is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing safe, stable housing for young adults ages 18 to 24 who’ve aged out of foster care in the Greater Sacramento region. Founded by Jenny Davidson in 2024, the program operates a 32-unit campus in North Sacramento with 28 two-bedroom residential apartments and four units dedicated to student services, a food pantry, and a clothes closet.
AcademySTAY is the only program in the Sacramento region that combines stable housing with a mandatory post-secondary enrollment requirement. Every student is pursuing a college degree, trade certification, or vocational credential. Housing is the foundation. Education is the standard.
Students receive one-on-one personal guidance, financial literacy training, career readiness support, mental health navigation, and peer mentorship. The program was built with foster youth, not just for them.
Other Ways to Support AcademySTAY
Give through your Donor-Advised Fund (DAF): AcademySTAY’s EIN is 92-3060150. Recommend a grant from your DAF to support foster youth housing in Sacramento.
Make a planned gift: Include AcademySTAY in your will or estate plan to create a lasting legacy for young adults transitioning from foster care.
Give through your employer: Many companies match employee donations. Check with your HR department to double your impact.
Shop our wish list: Students need laptops, school supplies, kitchen essentials, and professional clothing. Visit our wish list to send items directly to campus.
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Frequently Asked Questions
We know you may have questions before making a gift. Here are some of the most common ones we hear from donors:
Is AcademySTAY a 501(c)(3) nonprofit?
Yes. AcademySTAY is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our EIN is 92-3060150. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. We hold a Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid (formerly GuideStar), the highest level of nonprofit transparency.
How much does it cost to house a student at AcademySTAY?
AcademySTAY’s model costs less than $50 per day per student, or approximately $18,250 per year. This covers furnished housing, utilities, groceries, one-on-one personal guidance, and educational support. By comparison, an emergency shelter bed costs approximately $95 per day, and incarceration in California costs $127,800 per year (CA Legislative Analyst’s Office, FY 2025-26).
Do AcademySTAY students pay rent?
Most students qualify for a Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA) voucher, which AcademySTAY helps them apply for immediately upon intake. This voucher fully covers rent while they work toward independence. Students who aren’t eligible for a voucher pay a modest $700 per month, well below Sacramento’s market rent. Either way, housing is paired with personal guidance, financial literacy training, and career support.
What happens when students are ready to transition out?
Students don’t leave without a plan. Before any transition, AcademySTAY provides step-down planning that includes securing permanent housing, stable income, and a long-term support network. Of students who’ve exited the program, 44% have moved to their own residence, reunified with family, or achieved another positive outcome.
How many students does AcademySTAY serve?
As of early 2026, AcademySTAY houses 38 students across 28 two-bedroom apartments on a 32-unit campus in North Sacramento. Since opening in October 2024, the program has served 62 unique individuals and provided over 10,500 safe nights of housing. The campus has a maximum capacity of 56 students.
Is AcademySTAY rated by Charity Navigator?
Charity Navigator requires at least two years of financial history before assigning a rating. Since AcademySTAY opened in late 2024, the organization will be eligible soon. In the meantime, AcademySTAY holds a Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid (formerly GuideStar), the highest level of nonprofit transparency available.
Where is AcademySTAY located?
AcademySTAY is located in the Del Paso Heights neighborhood of North Sacramento, California. The campus serves young adults from Sacramento, Placer, Sutter, Yuba, Nevada, Yolo, and El Dorado Counties.
Still have questions? Contact us to connect directly with our team, or come see the impact of your support in person.