FYI: We can end homelessness for aging-out foster youth now

Taken together, The Foster Youth to Independence Initiative, which eases distribution for FUP Housing Choice Vouchers, and the Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Amendments Act of 2020 which codifies FYI and offers all voucher holders the opportunity to earn an additional two years of housing subsidy (for a total of five) ends homelessness for youth who are leaving foster care. These two policy solutions were written by alumni and foster youth in partnership with ACTION Ohio and NCHCW. FYI and FSHO don’t just end homelessness, they provide a predictable, synchronized, and universal platform for economic independence for youth leaving care. What’s more: it started back in 2019. Below you can learn more about whether or not your Public Housing Authority is prepared to help. And if you need help, email info@nchcw.org and we can walk you through the process of helping your PHA get on board. Once made aware, PHAs embrace the FYI and FUP - the next step is to convince your child welfare agency to fold this platform for economic security into transition planning for all older youth. NCHCW can help with that too.

What is the Foster youth to independence initiative?

FYI is a distribution mechanism that allows child welfare professionals to synchronize “on demand” Housing Choice Vouchers with the transition to adulthood for youth aging out of foster care. By folding this three-year housing subsidy into the legally-mandated transition plan for all youth who are likely to age-out, child welfare independent living coordinators can not only eliminate the fear of homelessness, they can help young people plan for economic independence. All young people aging out of foster care who are income eligible for HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher Program are eligible for FYI or more specifically, the FUP youth vouchers that FYI makes possible. All of this is codified in HUD’s youth-written Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Amendments Act, signed into law on December 27, 2020 and went into effect on January 24, 2022.

Who is eligible for FYI?

All young people aging out of foster care who are income eligible for HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher Program are eligible for FYI or more specifically, the FUP youth vouchers that FYI makes possible. Local income limits are based on local economies, however, one generally needs to be at or below 30% of Area Median Income.

Below is the eligibility for the program from the HUD Notice PIH 2023-04:

  • Has attained at least 18 years and not more than 24 years of age;

  • Left foster care, or will leave foster care within 90 days, in accordance with a transition plan described in section 475(5)(H) of the Social Security Act; and

  • Is homeless or is at risk of becoming homeless at age 16 or older

Sadly, all youth who are in foster care are at risk of homelessness, thus, if a person has been in foster care at any point after their 16th birthday, regardless of whether or not they are homeless when (or after) they age out, they are eligible for FYI/FUP youth vouchers. Keep in mind that FYI and FSHO were written by youth and alumni to ELIMINATE homelessness, not require it. FYI is intended to be a platform for economic self-sufficiency - this is separate and apart from homelessness. FYI of course, will overtime help to reduce homelessness and this is great news for everyone!

 
 

Dynamic Dashboard Created by Naomi Klopp and Ruth White, NCHCW

 

Dynamic Dashboard Created by Naomi Klopp and Ruth White, NCHCW

 

Foster Youth to Independence Initiative (FYI)

HUD’s FYI Initiative provides “on demand” access for 3-5 year Housing Choice Vouchers, perfectly time with emancipation (or the right time after emancipation - but prior to age 25), regardless of where a young person lives. FYI does this by making a great program better. FYI is simply a distribution scheme for HUD’s Family Unification Program vouchers for youth that eliminates long-standing flaws to make FUP vouchers for youth PREDICTABLE, UNIVERSAL, and SYNCHRONIZED with need.

 

How FYI works on the Ground step by step

 
 

Info for foster youth & Alumni

Am I eligible? Do I need a voucher? What’s the best timing for a voucher? Am I ready to get my own place and sign a lease? What is the best way to bring this up with my worker? Click below to learn more about these and other questions related to accessing your own apartment through FYI.

info for Child welfare workers

How do I identify the right youth for FYI? What is the difference between FUP and FYI? What do I do if I get a call about FYI from a youth who isn’t on my caseload anymore? Is FYI really “universal”? Click below to learn more about these questions.

info for administrators

How does my community expand FUP using FYI? Can new FYI really vouchers really expand FUP for families in my community? If I haven’t tapped FUP or FYI, what is the best way to move forward? For answers to these questions and more, click below.