Hart Community Homes, Inc.

Hart Community Homes is an independent nonprofit organization founded in 1996 by a father-daughter team who were moved by the needs of youth in foster care, particularly teenage boys who remained unadopted. Bill Hart and Cari Hart-Bunevith opened two group homes in the City of Orange providing a supportive residential environment for up to 12 adolescent males, age 13-18. Our two group homes are now Short-term Residential Treatment Centers (STRTC). We are proud that 80% of our residents earn a high school diploma (46% is the California state average).  Along with basics such as food, clothing and a safe place to live, each young man receives an individualized treatment plan, educational placement, individual therapy, health care, mentoring, case management, life skills/workforce development training and preparation for emancipation from the foster care system. Each boy is able to start his own savings account so he can establish a credit history. Each house has 24-hour staff with a ratio of three youth to every staff member. In addition to the child-care counselors, each child has a case manager, a therapist and a tutor that work closely with him. The population served is Level 12 on a scale of 1-14 (14 is the category for most complex and most severely emotionally challenged youth). The foster care youth in our homes have experienced significant neglect, abuse and abandonment. Many have had numerous placements over the years, and have been shuffled from home to home. Most of the youth have mental health diagnosis the most common of which are depression and anxiety. Since its founding, Hart Community Homes (HCH) has served more than 1,000 youth. Because they face serious challenges such as chronic unemployment and homelessness after emancipation, the organization launched a workforce development program – a.k.a. Monkey Business Cafe and Catering enterprise in downtown Fullerton. Here, youth and young adults can gain paid work experience, job training and mentoring during and after their transition out of foster care. This supportive environment provides an opportunity to work, gain skills, and pursue a plan for college, other employment and other future goals. We ensure they have stable housing and access to health care. The program includes an agriculture component in which participants spend a portion of time at the Fullerton Arboretum at Cal State Fullerton. There, they learn how to plant and grow fresh produce which is subsequently incorporated into the cafe and catering menu at Monkey Business. They also help create cafe menu items using these fresh ingredients. In 2021, we opened a transitional housing apartment adjacent to Monkey Business Cafe for emancipated youth, ages 18-21. Upon emancipating out of foster care at 18, these young persons can experience safe and stable housing, along with wraparound supports and work next door at Monkey Business Cafe!