8.5 Housing assistance
To prevent homelessness and other housing issues that youth leaving foster care face, policymakers need to ensure that housing assistance is available. States may spend up to 30 percent of their federal
Chafee Foster Care Independence Act funding allocations
on room and board for former foster youth. At least ten states have opted to use the full 30 percent allowed.
States can take additional steps to support foster youth and alumni in meeting their housing needs. For example, California created a transitional housing program for foster youth with a dedicated funding stream for transitional housing for emancipated youth until age 24 (Cal. Ann. Welf. & Inst. Code, Sec. 11403.1-2). Connecticut provides a continuum of services until age 21 that includes a community housing assistance program with a housing subsidy and case management.
Policy Options:
States can authorize and fund either or both of the following programs:
·
Transitional housing programs
·
Housing subsidies for youth
These programs can be made available to youth in the following age categories (in increasing order of youth affected):
·
Up to age 21
·
Up to age 24