FLINT, MI ā Darquetta Ogbonna said her experience at Nina's Place has changed her life.
Ogbonna, 20, has spent the last six months at the YWCA of Greater Flint program, which offers secure housing, counseling and help for women 18 to 20 years old who have aged out of foster care and don't have any family support.
"It's positive and uplifting to have the support system," Ogbonna said. "It's boosted my self-esteem. I'm proud of how far I've come."
On Thursday, Oct. 2, Ogbonna learned that Nina's Place would close after a recent decision by the YWCA of Greater Flint's board.
YWCA Board of Directors President Laurie Prochazka said the decision wasn't easy, but was made because of finances. The program, which can house 11 women at a time, costs more than $240,000 a year. The program is getting about $120,000 a year in local and national grants, Prochazka said.
"The financial realities can't be overcome," Prochazka said. "We did it knowing we had to get other sources of funding."
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