Today, U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson announced an additional $258,606 in funding for HUD’s new Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Initiative. Seven housing authorities will receive this funding, continuing HUD’s efforts to assist young adults transitioning out of foster care and who are at risk of homelessness. Last month, HUD awarded nearly $500,000 to the FYI Initiative. See chart below of today’s funding announcement.
HUD’s Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Initiative is an initiative that provides housing assistance and supportive services to young people with a child welfare history who are at-risk-of or experiencing homelessness. FYI, in conglomeration with local resources, will assist communities in ensuring that every young person who has had experience with the child welfare system has access to safe, affordable housing where they are supported to reach self-sufficiency by working toward their education and employment goals.
“These vouchers help young people get on the path to self-sufficiency when leaving foster care,” said HUD Secretary Ben Carson. “We often hear stories about how programs like these help youth in foster care and we are proud to partner with local housing authorities to make their transition as smooth as possible.”
R. Hunter Kurtz, Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing added: “HUD is in the business of helping people find homes and we are excited to work with leaders in the community to help keep these young people off the streets.”
The Humans of HUD campaign chronicles the story of a young man who left foster care and was able to find housing with the help of his local community. Watch our #HumanOfHUD profile of Benjamin Franklin below:
These tenant-protection vouchers will go to public housing authorities that do not participate in HUD’s Family Unification Program. The public housing authorities must:
- Administer a Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program;
- Enter into a partnership agreement with a Public Child Welfare Agency (PCWA);
- Accept young people referred by their partnering PCWA; and
- Determine that the referred youth are eligible for HCV assistance.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) estimates that more than 20,000 young people age out of foster care each year. The National Center for Housing and Child Welfare (NCHCW) estimates that approximately 25 percent of these young people experience homelessness within four years of leaving foster care and an even higher share are precariously housed.
| State | Public Housing Authority | City | Amount |
| California | Alameda County Housing Authority | Hayward, CA | $59,034 |
| Minnesota | Bemidji Housing and Revelopment Authority | Bemidji, MN | $29,876 |
| Missouri | Lincoln County Public Housing Agency | Bowling Green, MO | $35,702 |
| North Carolina | Housing Authority of Wilson | Wilson, NC | $4,970 |
| Oklahoma | Housing Authority of the City of Stillwater | Stillwater, OK | $5,688 |
| Oregon | Housing Authority of Washington County | Hillsboro, OR | $10,166 |
| Virginia | Portsmouth Revelopment and Housing Authority | Portsmouth, VA | $113,170 |
| Total: | $258,606 |