Funding Helps Keep Families Housed and Provides a Path to Housing Stability for Youth as part of National Foster Care Month
Under the leadership of Secretary Scott Turner, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded more than $10 million in Family Unification Program (FUP) voucher assistance funding for youth and families who lack safe and adequate housing. The award funds 573 vouchers at 11 public housing agencies (PHAs) across four states.
“A pathway to self-sufficiency is now one step closer as HUD works with localities to provide flexible funding for rental assistance and supportive services to foster youth and to keep foster-care-involved families together,” said Secretary Scott Turner. “This commitment from HUD will help lay the groundwork for a future with greater opportunity and strong family values.”
Under FUP, PHAs partner with public child welfare agencies and Continuums of Care to provide Housing Choice Voucher assistance to two groups:
- Families for whom the lack of adequate housing is a primary factor in placing children in out-of-home care, or families for whom the lack of adequate housing is the primary factor in the delay in a child’s reunification with the family.
- Youth 18 to 24 years of age (who have not reached their 25th birthday) who left foster care – or will within 180 days – and are homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless.
Families and youth may use the vouchers provided through FUP to lease decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private housing market. In addition to rental assistance, supportive services must be provided to youth for 36 months, such as personal finance education, job preparation, educational counseling, and proper nutrition and meal preparation.
FUP vouchers issued to youth are time-limited and encourage self-sufficiency and participation in the workforce. FUP youth receive housing assistance for 36 months, unless the youth meets the requirements to extend assistance under the Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities. Under these amendments, FUP youth may receive up to an additional 24 months of assistance if they meet certain requirements, including participation in a Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program or engagement in education, workforce development, or employment activities. There is no time limit on FUP vouchers issued to families.
HUD recently provided new flexibilities to reduce barriers and increase opportunities for FUP and Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) voucher holders to secure and maintain housing stability. Through these flexibilities, FUP and FYI participants will have more time to secure decent and safe housing with their vouchers, providing them with a platform to achieve greater self-sufficiency.
Recipients of the awards can be found on the table below:
Family Unification Program (FUP) Awards
| State | Public Housing Agency | City | Amount | Vouchers |
| California | San Diego Housing Commission | San Diego, CA | $1,585,161 | 75 |
| California | Placer County Housing Authority | Auburn, CA | $532,910 | 20 |
| California | Santa Clara County Housing Authority | San Jose, CA | $1,649,638 | 58 |
| California | Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz | Capitola, CA | $1,448,304 | 52 |
| Illinois | Chicago Housing Authority | Chicago, IL | $1,092,281 | 68 |
| Illinois | Housing Authority of Champaign County | Champaign, IL | $530,728 | 67 |
| Illinois | Housing Authority of Cook County | Chicago, IL | $1,225,395 | 75 |
| Illinois | Peoria Housing Authority | Peoria, IL | $345,361 | 39 |
| Illinois | Rock Island Housing Authority | Rock Island, IL | $168,394 | 19 |
| Minnesota | Washington County Community Development Agency | Woodbury, MN | $369,402 | 25 |
| Utah | Housing Authority County of Salt Lake Housing Connect | Salt Lake City, UT | $1,075,977 | 75 |
| Total | $10,023,551 | 573 |