Our
Story
New Life Village was founded on February 23, 2023, in Killeen, Texas, by Isamary Banks-Nieves, a U.S. Army veteran and licensed Texas REALTOR who set out to build something Central Texas didn't yet have: a true village for youth aging out of foster care.
Isamary knows what it means to be raised by a village. After losing her mother, it was the people who stepped in, family, mentors, and community, who carried her forward. New Life Village exists to be that same village for young people who age out of the foster care system without one.Since our founding, we have served more than 23 youth.
We are now building a permanent campus on Tootsie Trail in Killeen, a phased development of tiny homes designed to give every resident a safe, stable place to build an independent life.
Why This Work Matters
Every year, young people turn 18 or 21 and age out of the foster care system in Texas. Many have no family to lean on, no safe place to live, and no one teaching them how to manage a lease, a paycheck, or a job search.
The numbers in Texas tell the story:
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In fiscal year 2019, 1,212 Texas youth aged out of foster care (Texas Comptroller, citing DFPS).
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33% of Texas youth who age out experience homelessness by age 21, compared with a national average of 29% (UT Austin, Texas Institute for Child & Family Wellbeing, 2025).
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Only 5% of Texas youth in care on their 18th birthday were still in extended foster care on their 19th, compared with 24% nationally (UT Austin, 2025).
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Only about 3.5% of former foster youth in Texas earn a college degree by age 24 (Texas State University analysis, reported by Texas Public Radio).
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These outcomes aren't inevitable. They are the result of a gap in support at the exact moment young people need it most. New Life Village exists to close that gap.
What We Do
New Life Village provides youth aging and aged out of foster care with a Supervised Independent Living Program (SILP), offering:
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Safe, stable housing in a small community setting
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Life skills training in health and safety, housing and transportation, financial management, and personal and social relationships
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Job readiness and workforce development, including hands-on experience through our social enterprises: New Life Bistro, New Life Events, Living Kitchen, and Grace Store
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College and trade school preparation
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Mentorship and community, built on the belief that no young person should have to navigate adulthood alone
We work in partnership with other local organizations, combining our resources and experience in foster care and transitional foster care services to bette rmeet the needs of our youth.
Our Mission
To provide youth aging and aged out of foster care with safe, clean, and practical independent living structures in a small community setting, supported by professional and volunteer resources that meet their journey with dignity, love, excellence, and compassion. We aim to inspire them to change the world for others as they prosper.
New Life Village is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 92-2686039).