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.

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.

What is the Foster Youth to Independence initiative?

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 the 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, following 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 over time help to reduce homelessness and this is great news for everyone!

FIVE STEPS TO FYI

  • STEP 1- DISCUSS FYI

    Everyone can play a role in FYI. First, learn how FYI works and beyond the lookout for youth who might be eligible. Youth and their allies should include FYI in the list of housing options in their transition plan. If FYI is the right option the public child welfare agency (PCWA) should notify the PHA.

  • STEP 2- REFER TO PHA

    3 to 6 months before a young person needs a voucher, the PCWA Should notify the appropriate public housing authority (PHA) that the youth needs a voucher.

  • STEP 3- NOTIFY HUD

    The local PHA sent an email to HUD requesting a voucher for the young person.  A PHA may also request vouchers for more than one youth at a time.  HUD will respond to this request within 60 days.

  • STEP 4- GET VOUCHER

    HUD reviews the application and notifies the PHA that FYI has the teen approved. PHA invites you to an FYI briefing to determine the total tenant payment and issue an FYI voucher. Youths bring the necessary documents.

  • STEP 5- LEASE UP

    All along people and allies should be seeking out landlords and neighborhoods they prefer. Find a unit, run it by the PHA, and move in.

How FYI works step by step

 

Dynamic Dashboard Created by Naomi Klopp and Ruth White, NCHCW

 

Dynamic Dashboard Created by Naomi Klopp and Ruth White, NCHCW