PracticePerspectives

Securing Safe, Stable and Affordable Housing for Young People Aging Out of Foster Care

FallI S S U E

2 0 1 4

Background In federal fiscal year 2012, approximately23,396 young people transitioned out offoster care (U.S. Department of Health andHuman Services, 2013) and faced theobstacles of adulthood – tight job markets,low wages, elevated tuition rates, and a lackof affordable housing – with limited, if anysupports (Torrico Meruvia, 2013). Unlike theirpeers who may have family to rely on, life’schallenges can make older foster youths’transition into adulthood a daunting anddifficult one. Therefore, it is not surprising thatformer foster youth experience pooreducational outcomes, high rates ofunemployment, poverty, health issues, singleparenthood, and homelessness (Courtney &Heuring, 2005; Torrico Meruvia, 2013).

While housing stability is critical to thewell-being of youth, young people leavingcare continue to experience periods ofhousing instability and homelessness atstartling rates. In fact, 12 to 36 percent offormer foster youth experience homelessness(White & Rog, 2004; Courtney, Dworsky, Lee& Raap, 2010) and between 25 to 50

percent of young people frequently changeliving situations (e.g., couch surf, double up,face evictions, etc.) after leaving foster care(Dion, Dworsky, Kauff & Kleinman, 2014;Casey Family Programs, 2008). With alimited safety net, older foster youth face thedemands of obtaining enough money for asecurity deposit and first and last month’s rent,furnishing their home and making monthlyrental payments once they transition out offoster care. These responsibilities, combinedwith limited incomes and a narrow housingpool, make the transition into adulthoodchallenging at best.

Policies and Programs thatAddress the Housing Needs ofOlder Foster YouthDuring the last 25 years, federal and stategovernments have recognized that youngpeople transitioning out of foster care needsupport with the development of independentliving skills, support of education andemployment and securing stable housing(Courtney & Heuring, 2005; Dworsky,Dillman, Dion, Coffee-Borden & Rosenau,2012; Torrico Meruvia, 2013).

Roxana Torrico Meruvia, MSW

Senior Prac t i ce Assoc ia te

r tor r i co@naswdc.org

750 First Street NEWashington, DC 20002-4241SocialWorkers.org

The NationalAssociation ofSocial Workers

750 First Street NE

Washington, DC 20002-4241

SocialWorkers.org

©2014 National Association ofSocial Workers. All Rights Reserved.

Practice Perspectives Fall 2014

experience several living arrangements along thehousing continuum (see Figure 1) before findinga suitable option. Fortunately, allowing youngadults to experience two to three housing optionscan frequently lead to better outcomes (Kroner &Mares, 2008) in the long term.

There are a range of housing options and servicesfor young people leaving care – they generallyfall within the following three categories:

• Permanent housing is an important optionfor all young people however, it is especiallycritical for young people with disabilities whomay not only need permanent housing butalso long-term supportive services. Examplesof permanent housing options can includehousing voucher/subsidy for individualapartments or public housing units.

• Transitional housing is a time-limitedhousing option that generally lasts up to twoyears and aims to transition young peoplefrom foster care or, in some instances, froma housing crisis, into a more permanenthousing situation. Typically coupled withcase management services, transitionalhousing allows young people to focus oneducation and employment skills whilebuilding independent living skills necessaryto successfully live on their own. Transitionalhousing options can include group homes,shared homes, scattered-site andsemi-supervised apartments and host homes.

• Emergency housing such as shelters or drop in centers and emergency services(e.g., funds to cover late rent payments oroutstanding utility payments, etc.) are criticalfor youth facing a housing crisis.

Social Work Action Steps Social workers are in a unique position tosupport the housing needs of youth aging out offoster care. While not all social workers arehousing experts, they can do the following toensure that older foster youths’ housing needs areaddressed. In addition, see Critical HousingRelated Questions for Social Workers Workingwith Young People Aging Out of Foster Care.

• Engage youth in housing planning early.Social workers can engage young people inthe housing discussion early (before themandated 90 days before discharge). Whileit may take youth some time to find the rightliving arrangement, it is never too early tobegin to think about different housing options.Social workers can expose youth to a rangeof housing options depending on their ownspecific needs and available resources.

• Afford youth opportunities to practice lifeskills. Social workers can provide youth withopportunities to develop life skills throughactual experiences (e.g., writing a check,filling out a rental application, working apart-time job, etc.). Like their peers, olderfoster youth cannot be expected to masterlife skills without practice.

• Ensure that young people obtain all oftheir personal documents before leavingcare. Social workers can make certain thatyoung people acquire an original copy oftheir social security card and birth certificate,a copy of their credit report and any otherrelevant documents. It can be difficult foryouth to obtain these documents once theyleave foster care therefore, it is importantthat youth access these documents in advance.

• Engage supportive adults (identified by theyouth) in transition planning. Socialworkers can work with youth to identifysupportive adults in their lives that can serveas permanent connections and support themwhile they make important life decisions –including where they will live. These adultscould include foster parents, teachers,coaches, mentors, Court Appointed SpecialAdvocates (CASA), attorneys or relatives.

• Implement a cross-system approach toservice planning and delivery. Socialworkers can work across systems to addressthe needs of older youth. For example,partners can include housing authorities,universities and adult services. Coordinationof transition planning across key agencies

While there are a range of laws and programsthat support the various needs of young peopleaging out of foster care, below is a list ofhighlighted laws and programs that can supporttheir housing needs.

• John H. Chafee Foster Care IndependenceProgram, established by the Foster CareIndependence Act, doubled the funding tostates to $140 million while also expandingeligibility for services such as Medicaid,mentoring and room and board services (e.g.,security deposits, housing subsidies, etc.) forcurrent and former foster youth up to age 21.

• Education and Training Vouchers (ETV)program was authorized by the PromotingSafe and Stable Families Amendments of2001 as part of the John H. Chafee FosterCare Independence Program, allowingstates to pay up to $5,000 towards tuition,room and board and other school relatedcosts for students up until the age of 23.

• Fostering Connections to Success andIncreasing Adoptions Act of 2008 resultedin significant improvements for youth whospent time in foster care including mandatingthe development of a personalized transitionplan 90 days before discharge from fostercare (which must address housing) andallowing states to use federal funding tokeep youth (who meet certain conditions) infoster care until the age of 21.

• Family Unification Program (FUP) providesfamilies involved with child welfare with aHousing Choice Voucher and supportiveservices to reunify families or to avoid a fostercare placement altogether (if appropriate).In 2000, eligibility for FUP was extended toinclude former foster youth ages 18 to 21who were at least 16 when they transitionedout of foster care; youth receive an 18 monthhousing voucher while also receiving casemanagement services. FUP is administeredon the local level by public housing agenciesin partnership with public child welfareagencies. Public child welfare agencies areresponsible for referring youth to the publichousing agencies for determination ofeligibility for rental assistance.

• Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) and PublicHousing programs are generallyadministered by public housing agencies(PHA). Some PHAs set aside housingvouchers for youth aging out of care orprioritize youth on voucher waiting lists.Likewise, some public housing agencies

prioritize former foster youth’s applicationsfor public housing units. Housing ChoiceVoucher and public housing recipientstypically pay 30 percent of their adjustedgross income towards rent.

• Runaway and Homeless Youth ActTransitional Living Program aims to ensurethe basic safety of homeless youth whilesupporting their education, employment,health and permanent connections. Congressinitially enacted the Runaway and HomelessYouth Act (RHYA) in 1974; it is currentlyfunded through the Reconnecting HomelessYouth Act of 2008. Administered by theFamily Youth Services Bureau (FYSB), theRunaway and Homeless Youth Act TransitionalLiving Programs serve youth ages 16 to 21who are homeless and cannot return home;grantees can include programs with hosthomes, group homes or supervised apartmentsettings. In addition, RHYA programs alsoinclude Basic Center and Street Outreachprograms which provide emergency shelterand services and outreach services forhomeless youth. Young people who haveaged out of foster care and are homelessare eligible for these services (Fernandes-Alcantara, 2013).

A Range of Housing Options The shortage of affordable housing optionscoupled with the high costs of homelessness areforcing states and local communities to identifypermanent, transitional and emergency housingoptions for young people leaving care. Statesand communities across the country are craftinghousing solutions such as: creating all-year dormsfor college bound students; including youth inlocals plans to end homelessness; using up to 30percent of Chafee funds for room and boardservices (e.g., security or utility deposits, rentalsubsidies, emergency funding) and to supporthousing assistance programs (e.g., IllinoisDepartment of Children and Family Services);and developing their own state funded programs(e.g., California’s THP+, North Carolina’s NCReach) (Pergamit, McDaniel & Hawkins, 2012).

The best housing option for a young personpreparing to transition into adulthood must dependon the specific needs of the young person; eachyoung person may reflect a different level ofreadiness to live independently at different pointsin their young adult life. In fact, he or she may

The shortage of

affordable housing

options coupled with

the high costs of

homelessness are

forcing states and

local communities to

identify permanent,

transitional and

emergency housing

options for young

people leaving care.

With a limited safety

net, older foster youth

face the demands

of obtaining enough

money for a security

deposit and first

and last month’s

rent, furnishing

their home and

making monthly

rental payments

once they transition

out of foster care.

These responsibilities,

combined with

limited incomes

and a narrow

housing pool,

make the transition

into adulthood

challenging at best.

FIGURE 1: HOUSING CONTINUUMYouth may experience different types of housing options along

the housing continuum at different points of their young adulthood (depending on their needs).

experience several living arrangements along thehousing continuum (see Figure 1) before findinga suitable option. Fortunately, allowing youngadults to experience two to three housing optionscan frequently lead to better outcomes (Kroner &Mares, 2008) in the long term.

There are a range of housing options and servicesfor young people leaving care – they generallyfall within the following three categories:

• Permanent housing is an important optionfor all young people however, it is especiallycritical for young people with disabilities whomay not only need permanent housing butalso long-term supportive services. Examplesof permanent housing options can includehousing voucher/subsidy for individualapartments or public housing units.

• Transitional housing is a time-limitedhousing option that generally lasts up to twoyears and aims to transition young peoplefrom foster care or, in some instances, froma housing crisis, into a more permanenthousing situation. Typically coupled withcase management services, transitionalhousing allows young people to focus oneducation and employment skills whilebuilding independent living skills necessaryto successfully live on their own. Transitionalhousing options can include group homes,shared homes, scattered-site andsemi-supervised apartments and host homes.

• Emergency housing such as shelters or drop in centers and emergency services(e.g., funds to cover late rent payments oroutstanding utility payments, etc.) are criticalfor youth facing a housing crisis.

Social Work Action Steps Social workers are in a unique position tosupport the housing needs of youth aging out offoster care. While not all social workers arehousing experts, they can do the following toensure that older foster youths’ housing needs areaddressed. In addition, see Critical HousingRelated Questions for Social Workers Workingwith Young People Aging Out of Foster Care.

• Engage youth in housing planning early.Social workers can engage young people inthe housing discussion early (before themandated 90 days before discharge). Whileit may take youth some time to find the rightliving arrangement, it is never too early tobegin to think about different housing options.Social workers can expose youth to a rangeof housing options depending on their ownspecific needs and available resources.

• Afford youth opportunities to practice lifeskills. Social workers can provide youth withopportunities to develop life skills throughactual experiences (e.g., writing a check,filling out a rental application, working apart-time job, etc.). Like their peers, olderfoster youth cannot be expected to masterlife skills without practice.

• Ensure that young people obtain all oftheir personal documents before leavingcare. Social workers can make certain thatyoung people acquire an original copy oftheir social security card and birth certificate,a copy of their credit report and any otherrelevant documents. It can be difficult foryouth to obtain these documents once theyleave foster care therefore, it is importantthat youth access these documents in advance.

• Engage supportive adults (identified by theyouth) in transition planning. Socialworkers can work with youth to identifysupportive adults in their lives that can serveas permanent connections and support themwhile they make important life decisions –including where they will live. These adultscould include foster parents, teachers,coaches, mentors, Court Appointed SpecialAdvocates (CASA), attorneys or relatives.

• Implement a cross-system approach toservice planning and delivery. Socialworkers can work across systems to addressthe needs of older youth. For example,partners can include housing authorities,universities and adult services. Coordinationof transition planning across key agencies

While there are a range of laws and programsthat support the various needs of young peopleaging out of foster care, below is a list ofhighlighted laws and programs that can supporttheir housing needs.

• John H. Chafee Foster Care IndependenceProgram, established by the Foster CareIndependence Act, doubled the funding tostates to $140 million while also expandingeligibility for services such as Medicaid,mentoring and room and board services (e.g.,security deposits, housing subsidies, etc.) forcurrent and former foster youth up to age 21.

• Education and Training Vouchers (ETV)program was authorized by the PromotingSafe and Stable Families Amendments of2001 as part of the John H. Chafee FosterCare Independence Program, allowingstates to pay up to $5,000 towards tuition,room and board and other school relatedcosts for students up until the age of 23.

• Fostering Connections to Success andIncreasing Adoptions Act of 2008 resultedin significant improvements for youth whospent time in foster care including mandatingthe development of a personalized transitionplan 90 days before discharge from fostercare (which must address housing) andallowing states to use federal funding tokeep youth (who meet certain conditions) infoster care until the age of 21.

• Family Unification Program (FUP) providesfamilies involved with child welfare with aHousing Choice Voucher and supportiveservices to reunify families or to avoid a fostercare placement altogether (if appropriate).In 2000, eligibility for FUP was extended toinclude former foster youth ages 18 to 21who were at least 16 when they transitionedout of foster care; youth receive an 18 monthhousing voucher while also receiving casemanagement services. FUP is administeredon the local level by public housing agenciesin partnership with public child welfareagencies. Public child welfare agencies areresponsible for referring youth to the publichousing agencies for determination ofeligibility for rental assistance.

• Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) and PublicHousing programs are generallyadministered by public housing agencies(PHA). Some PHAs set aside housingvouchers for youth aging out of care orprioritize youth on voucher waiting lists.Likewise, some public housing agencies

prioritize former foster youth’s applicationsfor public housing units. Housing ChoiceVoucher and public housing recipientstypically pay 30 percent of their adjustedgross income towards rent.

• Runaway and Homeless Youth ActTransitional Living Program aims to ensurethe basic safety of homeless youth whilesupporting their education, employment,health and permanent connections. Congressinitially enacted the Runaway and HomelessYouth Act (RHYA) in 1974; it is currentlyfunded through the Reconnecting HomelessYouth Act of 2008. Administered by theFamily Youth Services Bureau (FYSB), theRunaway and Homeless Youth Act TransitionalLiving Programs serve youth ages 16 to 21who are homeless and cannot return home;grantees can include programs with hosthomes, group homes or supervised apartmentsettings. In addition, RHYA programs alsoinclude Basic Center and Street Outreachprograms which provide emergency shelterand services and outreach services forhomeless youth. Young people who haveaged out of foster care and are homelessare eligible for these services (Fernandes-Alcantara, 2013).

A Range of Housing Options The shortage of affordable housing optionscoupled with the high costs of homelessness areforcing states and local communities to identifypermanent, transitional and emergency housingoptions for young people leaving care. Statesand communities across the country are craftinghousing solutions such as: creating all-year dormsfor college bound students; including youth inlocals plans to end homelessness; using up to 30percent of Chafee funds for room and boardservices (e.g., security or utility deposits, rentalsubsidies, emergency funding) and to supporthousing assistance programs (e.g., IllinoisDepartment of Children and Family Services);and developing their own state funded programs(e.g., California’s THP+, North Carolina’s NCReach) (Pergamit, McDaniel & Hawkins, 2012).

The best housing option for a young personpreparing to transition into adulthood must dependon the specific needs of the young person; eachyoung person may reflect a different level ofreadiness to live independently at different pointsin their young adult life. In fact, he or she may

The shortage of

affordable housing

options coupled with

the high costs of

homelessness are

forcing states and

local communities to

identify permanent,

transitional and

emergency housing

options for young

people leaving care.

With a limited safety

net, older foster youth

face the demands

of obtaining enough

money for a security

deposit and first

and last month’s

rent, furnishing

their home and

making monthly

rental payments

once they transition

out of foster care.

These responsibilities,

combined with

limited incomes

and a narrow

housing pool,

make the transition

into adulthood

challenging at best.

FIGURE 1: HOUSING CONTINUUMYouth may experience different types of housing options along

the housing continuum at different points of their young adulthood (depending on their needs).

Social workers can

work with youth to

identify supportive

adults in their lives

that can serve as

permanent

connections and

support them while

they make important

life decisions –

including where

they will live.

and systems is particularly critical when afoster youth with disabilities transitions out ofthe foster care system.

Conclusion Safe, stable and affordable housing is essential tothe well-being of young people transitioning outof foster care as it impacts their ability to pursuehigher education and steady employment, buildand maintain a healthy, permanent connections,and in some instances, care for their children(Torrico & Bhat, 2009; Torrico Meruvia, 2013).While transitioning out of foster care can be aconfusing and challenging process for any youngperson leaving foster care, it is even more so, whenfacing a shortage of housing options with a limitedearning potential and an inadequate supportnetwork. Despite the federal, state and communityefforts to support the housing needs of youngpeople, critical gaps remain and there continuesto be a need to build more connections acrosssystems to improve housing outcomes for youthtransitioning out of foster care.

References Casey Family Programs. (2008). Improving outcomesfor older youth in foster care. Seattle: Author.

Courtney, M.E., Dworsky, A., Lee, J.S., & Raap, M.(2010). Midwest evaluation of the adult functioningof former foster youth: Outcomes at ages 23 and 24.Chicago: University of Chicago, Chapin Hall Centerfor Children. Retrieved from www.chapinhall.org/sites/default/fi les/Midwest_Study_Age_23_24.pdf

Courtney, M.E., & Heuring, D.H. (2005). The transitionto adulthood for youth “aging out” of the foster caresystem. In D.W. Osgood, C.A. Flanagan, & E.M.Foster (Eds.), On your own without a net: The transitionto adulthood for vulnerable populations (pp. 27–67).Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Dion, R., Dworsky, A., Kauff, J. & Kleinman, R. (2014).Housing for youth aging out of foster care. Retrievedfrom www.huduser.org/portal/publications/pdf/youth_hsg_main_report.pdf

Dworsky, A., Dillman, K.N., Dion, M.R., Coffee-Borden,B. & Rosenau, M. (2012). Housing for youth agingout of foster care: A review of the literature andprogram typology. Retrieved from www.huduser.org/publications/pdf/housingfostercare_literaturereview_0412_v2.pdf

Fernandes-Alcantara, A. (2013). Runaway andhomeless youth: Demographics and programs. Retrievedfrom www.nchcw.org/uploads/7/5/3/3/7533556/crs_2013_rhya_history_and_lit_review.pdf

Kroner, M.J. & Mares, A.S. (2008). Lighthouseindependent living program: Characteristics of youthserved and their outcomes at discharge. Childrenand Youth Services Review, 1-9.

Pergamit, M.R., McDaniel, M., & Hawkins, A. (2012).Housing assistance for youth who have aged out offoster care: The role of the Chafee Foster CareIndependence Program. Retrieved from http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/12/chafeefostercare/rpt.pdf

Torrico, R. & Bhat, S. (2009). Connected by 25:Financing housing supports for youth transitioning outof foster care. Retrieved from: www.f2f.ca.gov/res/FinancingHousingSupport.pdf

Torrico Meruvia, R. (2013). Ensuring a successfultransition to adulthood for foster youths. In K.Briar-Lawson, M. McCarthy & N. Dickinson (Eds.),The Children’s Bureau: Shaping a century of childwelfare practices, programs and policies.Washington, DC: NASW Press.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services(2013). The AFCARS report. Retrieved from www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/cb/afcarsreport20.pdf

U.S. Government Accountability Office. (2014).Foster care: HHS needs to improve oversight ofFostering Connections Act implementation. Retrievedfrom www.gao.gov/assets/670/663655.pdf

White, R., & Rog, D. (2004). Introduction [Specialsection]. Child Welfare, 5, 389–392.

NASW Resources National Association for Social Workers. (2013).NASW standards for social work practice in childwelfare. Washington, DC: Author.

National Association for Social Workers. (2003).NASW standards for practice of social work withadolescents. Washington, DC: Author.

NASW General Counsel. (2010). Legal rights ofchildren. Washington, DC: NASW Press.

Reamer, Frederic. (2010). A guide to essentialhuman services. Washington, DC: NASW Press.

Torrico, R. (2010). Meeting the needs of immigrantchildren and youth in child welfare. Washington,DC: National Association of Social Workers.

Torrico, R. (2010). Youth aging out of foster care:Supporting their transition into adulthood. Washington,DC: National Association of Social Workers.

Torrico Meruvia, R. (2010). Supporting the child welfareworkforce to reduce child maltreatment. Washington,DC: National Association of Social Workers.

CRITICAL HOUSING RELATED QUESTIONS FOR SOCIAL WORKERS WORKING WITHYOUNG PEOPLE AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE

The following is a tool to help guide social workers to determine if young people are ready to live on their ownand to identify housing resources for youth aging out of foster care.

IF NO, identify potential barriers or CRITICAL QUESTIONS YES NO provide additional notes.

Older Youths’ Housing ReadinessHas the young person learned housing search skills (e.g., reviewing a lease or rental application, understanding what it means to be a tenant, etc.)?

Has the young person experienced or explored living in different housing settings (e.g., scattered site apartments, group homes, etc.) close to his or her support systems?

Has the youth identified housing resources (e.g., Family Unification Program, Housing Choice Vouchers, etc.) and become familiar with eligibility requirements and the application process?

Has the young person reviewed a recent credit report?

Has the young person calculated the cost of rent, security deposits, and application costs?

Has the young person learned about the moving process (e.g., moving help, signing lease, obtaining keys, etc.)?

Has the youth identified a potential co-signer, if necessary?

Has the youth identified and secured furniture and household needs for upcoming move?

Community Housing ResourcesDoes your county or state use its Chafee funding to support housing assistance (e.g., rental assistance, security deposit, emergency assistance, etc.) for youth aging out of foster care?

Does your community have housing assistance programs for foster youth preparing to transition out of foster care?

Does your community offer Family Unification Program (FUP) vouchers for older foster youth?

Is the young person receiving Educational Training Vouchers (ETVs)?

If so, is the young person able to use any of the funds towards room and board?

Does your community prioritize Housing Choice Vouchers for youth aging out of foster care?

Does your state/local public housing agency prioritize public housing slots for older youth aging out of foster care?

Does your community have transitional housing programs (e.g., scattered site apartments, etc.) and services specifically for youth aging out of care?

Does the youth’s college/university prioritize on-campus housing/housing options for foster youth (during school year and breaks)?

Does your community have resources available to help young people furnish their homes?

Does your community have resources to advocate for tenant rights?

Can youth access Individual Development Accounts (IDA) to help them build financial assets (including homeownership)?

Does your community have emergency housing/shelters and services available for youth people facing a housing crisis?

Despite the federal,

state and community

efforts to support the

housing needs of

young people, critical

gaps remain and

there continues to be

a need to build more

connections across

systems to improve

housing outcomes for

youth transitioning

out of foster care.

Social workers can

work with youth to

identify supportive

adults in their lives

that can serve as

permanent

connections and

support them while

they make important

life decisions –

including where

they will live.

and systems is particularly critical when afoster youth with disabilities transitions out ofthe foster care system.

Conclusion Safe, stable and affordable housing is essential tothe well-being of young people transitioning outof foster care as it impacts their ability to pursuehigher education and steady employment, buildand maintain a healthy, permanent connections,and in some instances, care for their children(Torrico & Bhat, 2009; Torrico Meruvia, 2013).While transitioning out of foster care can be aconfusing and challenging process for any youngperson leaving foster care, it is even more so, whenfacing a shortage of housing options with a limitedearning potential and an inadequate supportnetwork. Despite the federal, state and communityefforts to support the housing needs of youngpeople, critical gaps remain and there continuesto be a need to build more connections acrosssystems to improve housing outcomes for youthtransitioning out of foster care.

References Casey Family Programs. (2008). Improving outcomesfor older youth in foster care. Seattle: Author.

Courtney, M.E., Dworsky, A., Lee, J.S., & Raap, M.(2010). Midwest evaluation of the adult functioningof former foster youth: Outcomes at ages 23 and 24.Chicago: University of Chicago, Chapin Hall Centerfor Children. Retrieved from www.chapinhall.org/sites/default/fi les/Midwest_Study_Age_23_24.pdf

Courtney, M.E., & Heuring, D.H. (2005). The transitionto adulthood for youth “aging out” of the foster caresystem. In D.W. Osgood, C.A. Flanagan, & E.M.Foster (Eds.), On your own without a net: The transitionto adulthood for vulnerable populations (pp. 27–67).Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Dion, R., Dworsky, A., Kauff, J. & Kleinman, R. (2014).Housing for youth aging out of foster care. Retrievedfrom www.huduser.org/portal/publications/pdf/youth_hsg_main_report.pdf

Dworsky, A., Dillman, K.N., Dion, M.R., Coffee-Borden,B. & Rosenau, M. (2012). Housing for youth agingout of foster care: A review of the literature andprogram typology. Retrieved from www.huduser.org/publications/pdf/housingfostercare_literaturereview_0412_v2.pdf

Fernandes-Alcantara, A. (2013). Runaway andhomeless youth: Demographics and programs. Retrievedfrom www.nchcw.org/uploads/7/5/3/3/7533556/crs_2013_rhya_history_and_lit_review.pdf

Kroner, M.J. & Mares, A.S. (2008). Lighthouseindependent living program: Characteristics of youthserved and their outcomes at discharge. Childrenand Youth Services Review, 1-9.

Pergamit, M.R., McDaniel, M., & Hawkins, A. (2012).Housing assistance for youth who have aged out offoster care: The role of the Chafee Foster CareIndependence Program. Retrieved from http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/12/chafeefostercare/rpt.pdf

Torrico, R. & Bhat, S. (2009). Connected by 25:Financing housing supports for youth transitioning outof foster care. Retrieved from: www.f2f.ca.gov/res/FinancingHousingSupport.pdf

Torrico Meruvia, R. (2013). Ensuring a successfultransition to adulthood for foster youths. In K.Briar-Lawson, M. McCarthy & N. Dickinson (Eds.),The Children’s Bureau: Shaping a century of childwelfare practices, programs and policies.Washington, DC: NASW Press.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services(2013). The AFCARS report. Retrieved from www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/cb/afcarsreport20.pdf

U.S. Government Accountability Office. (2014).Foster care: HHS needs to improve oversight ofFostering Connections Act implementation. Retrievedfrom www.gao.gov/assets/670/663655.pdf

White, R., & Rog, D. (2004). Introduction [Specialsection]. Child Welfare, 5, 389–392.

NASW Resources National Association for Social Workers. (2013).NASW standards for social work practice in childwelfare. Washington, DC: Author.

National Association for Social Workers. (2003).NASW standards for practice of social work withadolescents. Washington, DC: Author.

NASW General Counsel. (2010). Legal rights ofchildren. Washington, DC: NASW Press.

Reamer, Frederic. (2010). A guide to essentialhuman services. Washington, DC: NASW Press.

Torrico, R. (2010). Meeting the needs of immigrantchildren and youth in child welfare. Washington,DC: National Association of Social Workers.

Torrico, R. (2010). Youth aging out of foster care:Supporting their transition into adulthood. Washington,DC: National Association of Social Workers.

Torrico Meruvia, R. (2010). Supporting the child welfareworkforce to reduce child maltreatment. Washington,DC: National Association of Social Workers.

CRITICAL HOUSING RELATED QUESTIONS FOR SOCIAL WORKERS WORKING WITHYOUNG PEOPLE AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE

The following is a tool to help guide social workers to determine if young people are ready to live on their ownand to identify housing resources for youth aging out of foster care.

IF NO, identify potential barriers or CRITICAL QUESTIONS YES NO provide additional notes.

Older Youths’ Housing ReadinessHas the young person learned housing search skills (e.g., reviewing a lease or rental application, understanding what it means to be a tenant, etc.)?

Has the young person experienced or explored living in different housing settings (e.g., scattered site apartments, group homes, etc.) close to his or her support systems?

Has the youth identified housing resources (e.g., Family Unification Program, Housing Choice Vouchers, etc.) and become familiar with eligibility requirements and the application process?

Has the young person reviewed a recent credit report?

Has the young person calculated the cost of rent, security deposits, and application costs?

Has the young person learned about the moving process (e.g., moving help, signing lease, obtaining keys, etc.)?

Has the youth identified a potential co-signer, if necessary?

Has the youth identified and secured furniture and household needs for upcoming move?

Community Housing ResourcesDoes your county or state use its Chafee funding to support housing assistance (e.g., rental assistance, security deposit, emergency assistance, etc.) for youth aging out of foster care?

Does your community have housing assistance programs for foster youth preparing to transition out of foster care?

Does your community offer Family Unification Program (FUP) vouchers for older foster youth?

Is the young person receiving Educational Training Vouchers (ETVs)?

If so, is the young person able to use any of the funds towards room and board?

Does your community prioritize Housing Choice Vouchers for youth aging out of foster care?

Does your state/local public housing agency prioritize public housing slots for older youth aging out of foster care?

Does your community have transitional housing programs (e.g., scattered site apartments, etc.) and services specifically for youth aging out of care?

Does the youth’s college/university prioritize on-campus housing/housing options for foster youth (during school year and breaks)?

Does your community have resources available to help young people furnish their homes?

Does your community have resources to advocate for tenant rights?

Can youth access Individual Development Accounts (IDA) to help them build financial assets (including homeownership)?

Does your community have emergency housing/shelters and services available for youth people facing a housing crisis?

Despite the federal,

state and community

efforts to support the

housing needs of

young people, critical

gaps remain and

there continues to be

a need to build more

connections across

systems to improve

housing outcomes for

youth transitioning

out of foster care.

PracticePerspectives

Securing Safe, Stable and Affordable Housing for Young People Aging Out of Foster Care

FallI S S U E

2 0 1 4

Background In federal fiscal year 2012, approximately23,396 young people transitioned out offoster care (U.S. Department of Health andHuman Services, 2013) and faced theobstacles of adulthood – tight job markets,low wages, elevated tuition rates, and a lackof affordable housing – with limited, if anysupports (Torrico Meruvia, 2013). Unlike theirpeers who may have family to rely on, life’schallenges can make older foster youths’transition into adulthood a daunting anddifficult one. Therefore, it is not surprising thatformer foster youth experience pooreducational outcomes, high rates ofunemployment, poverty, health issues, singleparenthood, and homelessness (Courtney &Heuring, 2005; Torrico Meruvia, 2013).

While housing stability is critical to thewell-being of youth, young people leavingcare continue to experience periods ofhousing instability and homelessness atstartling rates. In fact, 12 to 36 percent offormer foster youth experience homelessness(White & Rog, 2004; Courtney, Dworsky, Lee& Raap, 2010) and between 25 to 50

percent of young people frequently changeliving situations (e.g., couch surf, double up,face evictions, etc.) after leaving foster care(Dion, Dworsky, Kauff & Kleinman, 2014;Casey Family Programs, 2008). With alimited safety net, older foster youth face thedemands of obtaining enough money for asecurity deposit and first and last month’s rent,furnishing their home and making monthlyrental payments once they transition out offoster care. These responsibilities, combinedwith limited incomes and a narrow housingpool, make the transition into adulthoodchallenging at best.

Policies and Programs thatAddress the Housing Needs ofOlder Foster YouthDuring the last 25 years, federal and stategovernments have recognized that youngpeople transitioning out of foster care needsupport with the development of independentliving skills, support of education andemployment and securing stable housing(Courtney & Heuring, 2005; Dworsky,Dillman, Dion, Coffee-Borden & Rosenau,2012; Torrico Meruvia, 2013).

Roxana Torrico Meruvia, MSW

Senior Prac t i ce Assoc ia te

r tor r i co@naswdc.org

750 First Street NEWashington, DC 20002-4241SocialWorkers.org

The NationalAssociation ofSocial Workers

750 First Street NE

Washington, DC 20002-4241

SocialWorkers.org

©2014 National Association ofSocial Workers. All Rights Reserved.

Practice Perspectives Fall 2014