1. Housing Solutions for Youth Leaving Foster Care NGA Institute on Youth October 2005 Child Welfare League of America www.cwla.org Ruth White, Director of Housing rwhite@cwla.org

2. What are unaccompanied youth up against? Limits in the capacity and capabilities of Independent Living Curricula. Available housing stock is too often “out of reach”: national housing wage is $15.37, or $31,970 a year, which is triple minimum wage. National trend is for young adults to return home to parents following college. Child welfare agencies acting alone have neither the housing expertise, nor resources necessary to assist youth to overcome these challenges.

3. What can be done at the state level to address housing issues? Housing must be a central feature of your state’s independent living curriculum. Ensure that your child welfare system builds a continuum of housing resources. Build statewide partnerships to create a range of affordable housing opportunities. Tap new and unusual streams of funding.

4. Planning for transition Start the housing discussion early – as soon as a young person has a goal of independent living. Describe the range of housing options. Give young people practical experience and a degree of choice. Allow for a bi-directional housing continuum. Ensure that child welfare is direct, not reactionary in the planning of housing arrangements. States may use state budget dollars to address the housing needs of youth.

5. Funding for IL Housing Services The Chafee Act was amended to allow for up to 30% of state IL dollars to be used for room and board. Currently, only 10 states are using IL dollars for this purpose. Some states use IL money for first month’s rent, security deposit, and furniture.

6. Partnerships with Public Housing Family Unification Program Priority Codes for Youth Leaving Care Housing Choice Vouchers Project Based Section 8

7. Family Unification Program FUP is a housing program for families and youth in the child welfare system. At minimum, FUP provides Section 8 vouchers to child welfare families and youth aging out of care. FUP is a collaboration between Public Housing Authorities and Public Child Welfare Agencies. FUP is a program designed to strengthen and stabilize child welfare families.

8. Agency Partnership Department of Children and Families (child welfare) Supportive Housing (IL Program) State Department of Social Services (DSS) Local Public Housing Authority (PHA) Young person Landlord Funding and referrals Informal partnership Housing assistance and case management Funding for Sec. 8 vouchers Pays rent on time Issues voucher to youth Pays rent on time Info and cooperation

9. Setting the table for PHA collaboration For PHAs: increased ability to serve clientele, more Section 8 vouchers. For CWAs: expanded access to housing solutions for families, caseworkers. For youth: affordable housing, stability, exit from the child welfare system. For the community: it is the preferred and most cost-effective alternative to foster care. Benefits to the parties involved

10. States using PHA model for youth Colorado Ohio California New York Some examples of states serving youth with Section 8

11. State Housing Agencies State-chartered authorities established to help meet the affordable housing needs of the residents of their states. Although they vary widely in characteristics such as their relationship to state government, most HFAs are independent entities that operate under the direction of a board of directors appointed by each state's governor. State Housing Agencies administer a number of housing funding streams, including HOME, Low Income Housing Tax Credit and some homeless funds. More can be learned about State Housing Agencies at www.ncsha.org.

12. The Home Investment Partnership Program is a federal block grant that provides states with a flexible affordable housing funding stream. HOME Program States receive 40% of HOME dollars. Florida, specifically the Tallahassee PHA, has investigating using part of the use of HOME funds for youth aging out.

13. . The LIHTC was established in 1986 in order to encourage the construction and rehabilitation of rental housing affordable to low income households. LIHTC offers a reduction in tax liability or credit to developers or owners for the first ten years. These properties can be used for youth and often are, however there are some restrictions that affect foster youth. Low Income Housing Tax Credit

14. Pay a visit to the states that have made strides, learn from their mistakes and achievements. States can use some homeless services and housing dollars for youth, but again, there are restrictions. Collaborations are the fastest, most efficient way to create a range of housing options. Finally…

15. Ruth White, Director of Housing and Homelessness Child Welfare League of America 440 First Street NW Third Floor Washington DC 20001 202/662-4282 rwhite@cwla.org www.cwla.org For more information