Homelessness, Housing, and Housing Supports Among Youth Transitioning to Adulthood from Foster Care: An Update from CalYOUTH Mark E. Courtney, MSW, PhD

Background Research prior to the extension of foster care to age 21 under the 2008 Fostering Connections Act identified youth transitioning to adulthood from foster care as a population at high risk of homelessness Midwest Study found that between 31% and 46% of these youth experience at least one night homeless by age 26 Youth in Illinois, which had extended care prior to Fostering Connections, were much les likely that youth in Iowa and Wisconsin to become homeless before age 21 Gender (male), history of running away from care, placement instability, a history of physical abuse, delinquent behavior, and health problems are associated with an increase in the risk of homelessness Extension of foster care has created new placement settings that may or may not reduce the risk of homelessness among youth who remain in care as young adults

CalYOUTH California Youth Transitions to Adulthood Study Evaluation of the impact of the California Fostering Connections to Success Act (AB 12), which extended foster care to age 21 from age 18, on outcomes for foster youth Study Methods: Collection of data from transition-age foster youth (at ages 17, 19, and 21) Analysis of administrative program data (e.g., foster care histories; postsecondary education; employment; and receipt of government aid) by county

Youth Surveys: Data Collection and Response Rate Wave 1 Survey Period (age 17) April 2013 to October 2013 51 counties included in final sample (weighted sampling) Youth eligible for study n = 763 Completed interviews n = 727 (response rate = 95.3%) Wave 2 Survey Period (age 19) March 2015 to December 2015 Completed interviews n = 611 (response rate = 84%) Wave 3 Survey Period (age 21) March 2017 to December 2017 Completed interviews n = 616 (response rate = 85%) A total of 611 youth completed the Wave 2 interviews in 2015, or just over 80 percent of the original sample that met the study’s eligibility criteria and 84 percent of the adolescents who completed the Wave 1 interview. The response rates for young people who were in-care at the time of the field period was higher than the response rate for young people who were out of care

Where Are Youth Living? Youth In-Care at Age 19 (n = 477) % SILP 142 31.4 THP-Plus or THP+FC 114 19.2 Home of a relative 93 22.6 Foster home with an unrelated foster parent 61 13.2 Home of a nonrelated family member 41 8.7 Other 16 2.6 Hospital, treatment or rehab facility 2 0.6 Group care 8 1.6

How Much are Youth in SILP’s, THP-Plus and THP+FC Paying for Rent at Age 19? Most youth reported paying less than $600 a month in rent however, differences between youth in THP-Plus or THP+FC and SILP were present

Where Are Youth Living at Age 21? (n = 616) % Own place or own room (apartment, house, trailer, a motel, hotel or single room, etc.) 284 44.3 Home of birth parent(s) 34 6.5 Home of another relative(s) 94 17.5 Home of spouse/partner 52 8.0 Home of a friend or friends 43 7.0 Home of former foster parent(s) 22 3.3 Transitional Housing Placement (THP-Plus) 27 4.4 Group quarters (residential treatment center, dormitory, jail, prison, hospital, rehab facility, etc.) 20 2.7 Homeless (have no regular place to stay) 19 2.9 Other 21 3.6

How Much Are Youth Paying in Rent at Age 21? (n=553)1 Most youth reported paying $500 or less a month in rent 1Includes youth living in their own place, hotel/motel/SRO, transitional housing placement, with parents, with relatives, with former foster family, with spouse/partner, with friends, and in a college dorm

Who Are Youth Living With at Age 21? Only about 10% of youth reported living alone About 64% of youth lived with a relative, spouse, or significant other (n=369)

Preparedness and Receipt of Housing Services at Age 19?

Satisfaction with Services to Prepare Youth to Live on their Own at Age 21 (n = 616)

How Many Youth Have Experienced Homelessness at Age 19?

How Many Couch-Surfed by Age 19?

How Many Youth Experienced Homelessness Between 19 and 21? (n = 616) About 1 in 4 youth (24.6%) had ever been homeless since their last interview

How Many Couch-Surfed between 19 and 21? (n = 616) More than 1 in 3 youth (36.0%) had ever couch surfed since their last interview

Remaining in Care and Placement Type Matter! CalYOUTH participants were asked to describe their support network in terms of the nature of the relationship to supportive adults and receipt of emotional support, tangible support, and advice/guidance At age 19, youth who remained in in-care youth were more likely than out-of-care youth to report having adequate tangible support and advice/guidance, and were more likely to report support from professionals Placement types used to provide housing for youth perceived to need more adult care and supervision (transitional supported housing and therapeutic foster homes) were most strongly associated with connections to professionals, suggesting that these living arrangements may be accomplishing one of their central purposes. Okpych, N. J., Park, K., Feng, H., Torres-García, A., & Courtney, M. E. (2018). Memo from CalYOUTH: Differences in social support at age 19 by extended foster care status and placement type. Chicago, IL: Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago.

Stay tuned… https://www.chapinhall.org/research/calyouth/ Courtney, M. E., Okpych, N. J., Park, K., Harty, J., Feng, H., Torres-Garcia, A., & Sayed, S. (2018). Findings from the California Youth Transitions to Adulthood Study (CalYOUTH): Conditions of youth at age 21. Chicago, IL: Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago.