NEXT STEPS TEXAS
When We Step Into The Gap, Lives Are Change.
Every year, thousands of young adults age out of foster care or find themselves without stable housing,
support, or direction. Within a short time, many face homelessness, unemployment, or incarceration, not because they lack potential, but because they lack a safety net.
In fact, research shows that within 18–24 months of aging out of foster care, a significant percentage of
youth experience housing instability, and without support systems, nearly 1 in 4 will experience homelessness. But with the right support, the outcome changes dramatically.
Our Story
Next Steps Texas was born from a deeply personal story and a vision that has been growing in the hearts of its founders, James and Shalena French, for many years.
For James, the mission is rooted in his own experience. Growing up in foster care in Oklahoma, he was adopted at the age of ten and experienced firsthand the life-changing impact of having a stable, loving family. For Shalena, the vision comes from a passion for helping children and young adults and a deep calling to serve those involved in the foster care system. Throughout their marriage, they have shared countless conversations about how they could make a lasting difference in the lives of vulnerable youth.
In his early twenties, while living in Texas and walking through a difficult season of life, James made a phone call that would leave a lasting impression on him. He called his adoptive mother and asked if he could come home. Without hesitation, she responded, “Come home. Your room is ready for you.” That moment changed everything.
Years later, James found himself reflecting on a simple but powerful question:
“What if I hadn’t had anyone to call?”
That question became the foundation of Next Steps Texas.
For more than twenty years, James and Shalena have carried a vision to create a place where young adults who have aged out of foster care, or who are experiencing housing instability, can find safety, support, and belonging. A place they can truly call home. A place where they can receive the guidance, stability, encouragement, and opportunities needed to build a successful future.
Today, James and Shalena serve as the leaders of Revive Church in Corpus Christi. Together, they have dedicated their lives to discipleship, community outreach, and helping people experience transformation through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Next Steps Texas is the natural extension of that calling, a commitment to stand in the gap for young adults who need someone to believe in them, walk alongside them, and help them take their next steps toward a stable, independent, and purpose-filled life.
What We Are Building
Next Steps Texas is currently in the early stages of development, preparing to launch transitional housing and support services for young adults ages 18–25.
Our goal is to provide more than housing, we are building a foundation for life transformation through:
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Safe transitional housing
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Life skills training and career readiness
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Mentorship and consistent adult support
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Partnerships with local organizations
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Faith-based discipleship and encouragement (optional and inclusive)
We operate from a simple framework:
G.A.P. — Growth, Accountability, Purpose
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Growth: life skills, education, and career development
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Accountability: structure, mentorship, and stability
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Purpose: identity, direction, and long-term vision
The Vision
We believe every young adult deserves more than survival. They deserve a place to live.
A path forward. And people who refuse to give up on them. Next Steps Texas exists to break cycles
of homelessness and instability by standing in the gap, so no young adult has to face life alone.
Where We Are Today
We are a newly formed nonprofit, actively building the foundation for our first programs and preparing
to launch services in the Corpus Christi area. We are currently seeking partners, donors, and supporters
who believe in this mission and want to help make it possible.
Join Us
When we step in the gap, lives are changed.
Together, we can create a place where young adults don’t just survive the next step, they thrive in it.