Students from foster care get $150,000 boost as HopeTech set to open at EVIT

The improvements are being funded with Maricopa County Community Solutions Funding.

PUBLISHED AUG 22, 2024

HopeTech at EVIT is the first program of its kind in Arizona.

Phoenix, Arizona: Students transitioning out of the foster care system will soon have extra support with $150,000 in funding approved by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. HopeTech, a newly built 64-bed residence hall at East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT), will receive support to help young adults exiting foster care to have safe housing while receiving career technical training at EVIT.

“Investing in our young people as they transition out of foster care is an investment in the future of our communities,” said Vice Chairman Thomas Galvin, who represents District 2 on the Board of Supervisors. “Workforce training provides them with important, economically viable skills, and the opportunity to build a stable, successful life.”

Maricopa County will provide funding to EVIT for furniture and appliances and transportation items.

Maricopa County will provide funding to EVIT for furniture and appliances, transportation items to allow greater ease of accessing the 65+ acre property and transporting youth to appointments and trainings, and recreational courts and equipment to provide youth with opportunities for physical activities.

“The generous support from Maricopa County is more than a financial gift,” said EVIT Superintendent Dr. Chad Wilson. “It provides students with additional resources and support needed to step confidently into adulthood and onto a pathway towards independence and prosperity. We are deeply grateful for this investment into these students' futures.”

HopeTech is the first program of its kind in Arizona, combining housing and support services for foster youth with career training at a Career Technical Education District (CTED) campus. Officials are hopeful that this program can serve as a model to be replicated in other CTEDs across the state and technical schools nationwide.

The improvements are being funded with Maricopa County Community Solutions Funding allocated by Vice Chairman Galvin through December 31, 2024. The Board’s Community Solutions Funding is designed to help advance Maricopa County’s strategic goals and provide clear public benefits for Maricopa County residents.