COEUR d’ALENE — A rising number of young adults aging out of the foster care system are turning to Safety Net Inland NW for help.

And they’re getting it.

Like a young man who recently returned to the Coeur d’Alene area and couldn't find an affordable place to live.

“With the rising cost of rent and fuel, we have kids that were making it before and are not making it now,” said Jenny Hurd, Safety Net program director.

The man’s grandparents are paying about $800 for an RV spot for him, so Safety Net is pitching in to cover that cost.

And there's Kenzi, a young pregnant woman who is working hard to pay rent and prepare for her baby.

Again, Safety Net stepped up with rent help, took care of $150 of Kenzi’s unpaid utility bills, and put an extra $150 on her account as a buffer for next month.

“It’s a struggle for many to get by,” Hurd said.

Ladies in the 9-hole Tuesday morning league at Coeur d’Alene Public Golf Club want to help. They presented a $2,500 check to Safety Net InlandNW on Thursday.

It’s the fourth straight year they have given to Safety Net. Last year, they donated $2,000.

“We really believe in our children here and want to support our children as much as we can,” said Lonna DeVol, treasurer.

Because Safety Net doesn’t have an office in North Idaho, and Hurd is the only paid employee who often works remotely or at home, it has low overhead, so contributions go far.

DeVol said they’re plan to continue supporting Safety Net.

“They need it,” she said. “They really need this.”

Safety Net InlandNW is based in Eastern Washington but has expanded into North Idaho.

This year, it will help about 50 young people, generally age 18 to mid-20s, who are no longer in foster care and may not have a place to call home in North Idaho. It will help even more in Spokane.

There are about 2,000 young people in foster care in Idaho

“Anybody who is about to age out, we want to make sure the process goes smooth,” said Molly Allen, co-founder of Safety Net.

She said donations may pay for a number of things, from a laptop, to car repairs to new shoes or basic household goods.

“It just depends on what they need,” she said.

But it makes more than a short-term impact.

Such assistance might mean someone graduates from high school or college, lands a job or finds a place to live.

Or it could provide the hope that keeps someone going.

“The difference is huge,” Allen said.