Housing authorities receive funds for youth

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson announced June 9 nearly $100,000 nationally in the most recent round of funding for HUD’s Foster Youth to Independence initiative, which includes nearly $13,000 to the Lorain Metropolitan Housing Authority and more than $6,000 to the Erie Metropolitan Housing Authority.

Since the initiative was launched in June 2019, 26 states have received FYI funding, equating to 654 individual vouchers, totaling over $5.4 million in funds to prevent or end homelessness among young adults younger than the age of 25 who are in, or have recently left, the foster care system without a home to go to, according to a news release.

HUD’s Foster Youth to Independence initiative provides housing assistance and supportive services to young people with a child welfare history who are at-risk-of or experiencing homelessness, the release said.

Foster Youth to Independence, 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, according to the release.

The National Center for Housing and Child Welfare estimates that approximately 25 percent of these young people experience homelessness within four years of leaving foster care and an even higher number are precariously housed.

HUD’s Foster Youth to Independence housing vouchers go to public housing authorities that do not participate in HUD’s Family Unification Program.

To be eligible for FYI funding, public housing authorities must: administer a Housing Choice Voucher Program; enter into a partnership agreement with a Public Child Welfare Agency; accept young people referred by their partnering PCWA; and determine that the referred youth are eligible for HCV assistance.