November is National Adoption and Youth Homelessness Awareness Month.
On Friday, families gathered at the courthouse in Palm Beach County to welcome new members to their family.
Melissa Brouillette is passionate about helping foster children. The mom of eight, has four biological and four adopted children. She and her husband, decided to add another member to their family. She knew that adoption was right for her family after she volunteered at a group home. They adopted 1-year-old Amelia.
“While it is a beautiful day it comes from a place of so much brokenness. I wish that wasn’t the story for her biological mom,” Brouillette said. “Addiction is a very hard thing. I want to acknowledge that her mom chose life and I will forever be grateful for that.”
Jeff DeMario is the chief financial officer for Vita Nova— a local non-profit that helps youth who are facing homelessness and those who have aged out of the foster system. The organization said hat youth homelessness is up 13% year over year in Palm Beach County. DeMario told WPTV that youth homeless numbers are on the rise.