HUD Announces $1.3 Million to Prevent Homelessness

Funding will support housing assistance for young adults transition out of foster care.

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced $1.3 million in funding for 21 Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) across 15 states for young adults under 25 years old who left foster care or are transitioning out of foster care. Through the Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) program, HUD will help prevent homelessness among young adults and eligible youth. Today’s announcement supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to preventing people from becoming homeless, addressing inequities that disproportionately impact underserved communities, and helping cities and states reduce unsheltered homelessness.

“Youth transitioning out of foster care need housing stability and access to affordable homes,” said HUD Agency Head, The Honorable Adrianne Todman. “With the funding announced today, HUD and local agencies will keep our most vulnerable youth off the streets and in stable environments where they can thrive.”

Transitioning out of foster care can create a time of uncertainty and instability in the lives of young people and increase the risk of experiencing homelessness. The funding awarded today will help communities across the country to address gaps in the availability of housing assistance for young Americans, support the federal goal of preventing and ending youth homelessness and set young people on a path to self-sufficiency by providing education, counseling and supportive services. This will directly support young adults between the ages of 18 years old and no more than 25 years old, who left foster care or are transitioning out of foster care and are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

FYI makes Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) assistance available to PHAs in partnership with Public Child Welfare Agencies. This will broaden access to stable housing for youth and young adults who’ve previously lived in foster care.

“Our goal is to expand access to safe and healthy homes where foster youth can transition to independent living,” said Richard Monocchio, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing. “HUD values its partnerships with Public Housing Agencies and Public Child Welfare Agencies where, through programs like FYI, foster youth can be given the support they need to create bright, stable futures.”

Established by Congress in 2019, the FYI program was created through the youth advocacy efforts to allow all PHAs to serve eligible young adults, particularly those who’ve lived in foster care. There are currently 5,344 FYI vouchers that are administered by 312 PHAs across the country. Funding remains available for additional on-demand FYI assistance under PIH Notice 2023-04, which made $30 million available to PHAs to apply for on demand as eligible youth were identified and referred to the PHA through their partnering PCWA. To date, under this notice, HUD has awarded more than $20 million for a total of 1,575 vouchers.

Below is a list of PHAs who received funding as part of today’s announcement.