Co-founders of Cater 2 Youth Marie Minor (right) and her daughter, Masiyah German (left). (Photo: Deesarine Ballayan)

Germantown resident Marie Minor will be opening a branch of her luxury foster care non-profit, Cater 2 You: Youth Haven, in Germantown. The facility is expected to open in December of this year with an occupancy of three residents for long-term residential stay. 

Cater 2 You is currently operating in Upper Darby. Each room is fitted with golden fixtures, and every bathroom has golden faucets and crystal doorknobs. All of this was styled and furnished with money from Minor’s savings. 

The Upper Darby facility caters to girls and has space for 11 residents aged 13-21. The facility is complete with a hair studio and nail salon equipped with two salon chairs and a rainbow of nail polish. 

The Upper Darby location features a dining hall with a coffee station and an area with couches, desks, and a TV. The kitchen has four ovens, a flattop stove, and mirror tiling. 

All of these amenities will also be available to residents who stay in the Germantown facility once it opens. Minor also offers programs to the youth who stay in her facility. 

“I try to keep them busy,” said Minor, “We’re the parents, but the kids always have the option to say no.” 

While Minor says her youth tends to favor arts, music, and cooking, Cater 2 You has people come in to teach residents therapeutic art, LGBTQ+ history workshops, job readiness workshops, and DJing. They’ve also partnered with TD Bank to teach the residents financial literacy. 

“Some of these kids come to me, and their parents have already put an electric bill in their name, so we have people like TD come in to help these kids expunge things like that off their credit history,” the Cater 2 Youth Founder said.

Minor also claims that any youth who stays at the youth haven for 30 days or more will be automatically enrolled in CPR training. 

Unlike its sister location in Upper Darby, the Germantown facility will cater specifically to LGBTQ+ youth who identify as men or young mothers. She says that whoever comes first is the kind of youth the facility will cater to.

“A lot of people think I only work with LGBTQ+ youth,” said Minor. “But I am simply being inclusive…most shelters will turn them away due to their sexuality.”

According to Advocates for Trans Equality, many facilities are unaware that under federal law, they are not allowed to turn someone away due to their sexuality or gender. The organization claims that even asking someone about their demographics could be considered discrimination.

Because Minor is licensed at the county and state level, she can accept residents from any county in Pennsylvania. Residents are referred by social services or county youth services. 

After applying, youths can expect to be interviewed by Minor. 

Cater 2 You also helps connect their Upper Darby residents to long-term housing. Minor also interviews each foster parent and encourages day visits and overnight stays before the child leaves.

Minor says she truly sees a need for these kinds of facilities all over Philadelphia, but especially in Germantown. 

“It’s a unique environment. These kids are going to come in here and be tremendously blessed,” said Minor.

In Philadelphia, Black youth are about 42 percent of the total youth population. However, 65 percent of DHS-involved youth are Black. 

In Germantown, whose Black population is significantly larger than Philadelphia’s, the neighborhood sees some of the highest rates of child hotline calls in the city. 

After moving to Germantown in 2004, Marie Minor got her start in foster care through her sister. Minor initially encouraged her sister to become a foster mom because she didn’t have children. 

“My sister’s foster kids always ended up being at my house, and the foster care agencies heard so many good things about me; they eventually convinced me to become a foster mom,” said Minor, “My first two foster kids even look a little like me.”

Minor’s only biological daughter, Masiyah German, is Co-Founder and Director of the youth haven. German took a break from her studies to help her mother with the non-profit.

“I developed a different level of admiration for my mother,” said German, “ Even before starting the youth haven, my mom would go to her 9 to 5 and still come home and be a mom to me and the other kids. Be completely selfless. I am so proud of her.”

German’s background is in criminal justice and community service. The mother-daughter duo claims they were able to combine their love of helping the youth and pour it into creating a safe space for them. 

Minor plans to open three more shelters that will cater to very specific demographics and their unique needs. 

“Too often shelters provide a bed but not a sense of home or dignity or a sense of belonging, and we want to give them that here,” Minor said.  

To learn more about the youth haven, visit their website.