14 Public Housing Agencies in 12 States receiving funding to prevent homelessness faced by youth involved in the child welfare system
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced the awarding of nearly $621,000 to 14 public housing agencies (PHAs) in 12 states to provide housing assistance to youth who are aging out of foster care and are experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. The funding, awarded through HUD’s Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Program, will make available 60 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs) to these PHAs.
“Providing housing and supportive services to young people aging out of foster care is critical to their long-term stability and success,” said HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge. “The Foster Youth to Independence Initiative fills a longstanding gap in support for young people who are transitioning out of foster care. With these funds, communities can strengthen efforts to meet the housing needs of at-risk youth and provide them with supported services needed to thrive.”
HUD’s Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Initiative provides housing assistance and supportive services to young people with a child welfare history who are at-risk-of or experiencing homelessness.
To be eligible for FYI funding, public housing authorities must:
- Administer a Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program;
- Enter into a partnership agreement with a Public Child Welfare Agency (PCWA);
- Accept young people referred by their partnering PCWA; and
- Determine that the referred youth are eligible for HCV assistance.
The following states were awarded funding:
| State | Recipient | City | Amount |
| CT | Housing Authority of The City of Norwalk | Norwalk | $17,251 |
| CT | Connecticut Department of Housing | Hartford | $135,381 |
| FL | Housing Authority of Brevard County | Melbourne | $9,565 |
| MA | Fitchburg Housing Authority | Fitchburg | $8,184 |
| MN | Metropolitan Council | St. Paul | $10,696 |
| MS | Tennessee Valley Regional Housing Authority | Corinth | $10,379 |
| MT | Housing Authority of Butte | Butte | $10,480 |
| NJ | Newark Housing Authority | Newark | $297,048 |
| NM | El Camino Real Housing Authority | Socorro | $6,743 |
| OH | Erie Metropolitan Housing Authority | Sandusky | $6,683 |
| TX | Housing Authority of the City of Laredo | Laredo | $19,036 |
| TX | Bexar County Housing Authority | San Antonio | $66,512 |
| WA | Housing Authority of the City of Bremerton | Bremerton | $10,707 |
| WI | Janesville Neighborhood Services | Janesville | $12,123 |
| $620,788 |
The Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) initiative makes Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) assistance available to Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) in partnership with Public Child Welfare Agencies (PCWAs). For more information on the FYI program, click here.
On June 6, 2022, HUD published the FYI Competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The deadline is August 8, 2022. Eligible PHAs may apply on Grants.gov here.