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Podcast guests urge housing, mentorship and better pay for caseworkers to support transition-age foster youth in Los Angeles County
Summary
On a recent episode of the Talk to Me podcast, host Sherry Bradford and three guests discussed gaps in housing, mentorship and benefits for transition-age youth (TAY) leaving foster care in Los Angeles County, describing temporary housing programs, landlord negotiations and calls for community collaboration and higher pay for frontline workers.
Sherry Bradford, host of the Talk to Me podcast, convened a discussion about concrete supports for transition-age youth (TAY) in Los Angeles County, where guests said stable housing, trusted mentors and better-funded casework remain major gaps for young people leaving foster care.
The episode gathered Corey Davis (CEO and basketball coach), Bishop Perez Smith (founder, Nehemiah Project LA) and Alexis Obina (advocate and social worker) to describe their personal experiences and program-level approaches to housing, mentoring and advocacy for system-involved youth.
Speakers emphasized that housing is both an immediate need and a long-term challenge. Bishop Perez Smith said his nonprofit focuses on temporary housing “initially, it’s up to 2 years or so,” and that many young people need longer-term, stable housing — “permanent housing is also very important for 5, 6, 7, 8 years,” he said. He framed that housing work as part of creating a durable community support network he called a “forever family.”
Panelists described mentorship and trusted adults as a frequent, irreplaceable support. Corey Davis credited teachers and coaches, naming a middle-school teacher (“Mister G.”) and coach Keith Higgins as figures who helped him stay in school and navigate the system. “Those two people really helped out,” Davis said, describing how school-based relationships provided stability even when placements were unstable.
Guests recounted specific housing obstacles. Obina described living in an RV during COVID and negotiating with landlords after rent increases: she said her rent “has been raised twice, 12% in 2 years,” and that talking directly with a landlord and organizing tenants helped produce modest concessions. She also warned that federal or state supports are limited in scope: “it’s not for free. It’s for a set amount,” she said, referring to college funding programs discussed on the show.
The conversation included pointed calls for policy and funding changes. Obina urged a reallocation of public dollars and stronger support for frontline partners: “stop paying city officials 240,000 dollars plus to do a job that social workers and community partners should get paid for,” she said, arguing community partners and caseworkers are underpaid while supporting high caseloads.
Speakers recommended practical, locally achievable steps: recruiting homeowners and churches to host or rent rooms, orienting property owners to work with youth, and building coordinated community networks so young people can access mentorship, job training, financial literacy and housing navigation. Bishop Perez Smith emphasized cross-sector collaboration with nonprofits, faith groups and developers to scale solutions.
Panelists also raised gaps in legal knowledge and advocacy. Guests said many TAY do not know their rights or available benefits when they age out; panelists urged better outreach and peer-to-peer navigation so young people know how to access Chafee-related benefits and scholarship opportunities referenced during the episode.
No formal votes or policy decisions were taken on the podcast. Participants said they would post resource links in the episode description and urged listeners — including homeowners, churches, foundations and local officials — to consider practical steps to expand housing, mentorship and pay for frontline workers.
