HUD Celebrates the Sixth Anniversary of the Foster Youth to Independence Initiative
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Southwest Regional Administrator Ashlea Quinonez penned an opinion piece discussing the continued impact of HUD’s investment in youth transitioning out of foster care in Texas. This year marks the sixth anniversary of HUD’s Foster Youth to Independence program, which gives these vulnerable youth the tools and resources they need to achieve success and self-sufficiency as they transition to adulthood.
“[HUD] has delivered more than $5 million in investment nationwide since President Trump returned to the White House,” wrote HUD Southwest Regional Administrator Ashlea Quinonez. “Nearly $250,000 of that investment went to Texas foster youth, providing them with stable temporary housing and supportive services as they build their futures.”
Read the full op-ed below:
Each year, more than 20,000 young Americans transition from foster care, many with no safety net, no stable housing, and no clear path forward. It’s estimated a quarter of them become homeless shortly after leaving the foster care system. For these youth, the transition from foster care to adulthood marks a crossroads—one that can either lead to opportunity or derail their chance to achieve the American Dream.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recognizes that this transition point is critical. It’s a moment when targeted investment can transform futures.
That’s why, in 2019, HUD launched the Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) initiative. FYI provides local public housing authorities funding to help young Americans transitioning from foster care avoid homelessness and begin their new chapters as responsible adults. In addition to temporary rental assistance, the program includes support for services like skills training and job preparation.
HUD’s investment in foster youth is equipping them with tools for success so they can enjoy housing stability, dignity, and independence.
This year, we are celebrating the sixth anniversary of this important program, which has delivered more than $5 million in investment nationwide since President Trump returned to the White House. Nearly $250,000 of that investment went to Texas foster youth, providing them with stable temporary housing and supportive services as they build their futures.
As HUD’s Southwest Regional Administrator, I have witnessed firsthand the impact HUD has made on these young people’s lives. They are resilient, ambitious, and full of promise-and they can thrive if given a chance.
At HUD, we’re investing in more than housing, we’re investing in foster youths’ futures. We are committed to working with local communities to ensure foster youths are empowered, not forgotten. Under the leadership of HUD Secretary Scott Turner, we remain steadfast in ensuring that foster youth are not left to navigate this tough transition period alone. We will continue to support them so they can not only survive but thrive.