Young people who age out of foster care leave the child welfare system face many hurdles to attaining self-sufficiency, but housing is the first. Some federal programs exist to connect this group to vouchers, though significant barriers still exist to accessing them.

Young people aging out of foster care who access housing vouchers through either the Family Unification Program (FUP) or the Foster Youth to Independence Initiative (FYI) are also eligible to participate in the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program. Public housing authorities (PHAs) administer FSS, which helps coordinate public and private services, such as job training, child care, transportation, basic adult education, financial coaching, and more for voucher holders.

The recently enacted Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act (FSHO) allows an increase in a young person’s time-limited housing voucher from three years to up to two additional years if the young person participates in FSS. FSS can offer services for young people to meet education and employment goals. However, our research reveals several ways PHAs and their FSS program can more effectively connect young people aging out of foster care with the tools they need to thrive.

1. Inform young people about the FSS program when reviewing housing options while they’re still in foster care.

Most young people learn about FSS after receiving their FUP or FYI voucher but may be more likely to apply for these programs if they were also aware of the FSS program and the ways it can support their long-term goals. But turnover among child welfare staff can limit the staff’s knowledge about FSS. The ability for child welfare staff to explain the program to young people while they’re still in foster care is important to ensuring young people can access these resources.

PHAS can actively engage with child welfare workers on a regular basis to keep staff informed and improve communication. They can also engage with transitional living programs to help inform young people who aged out without applying for FUP or FYI.

2. Ensure FUP/FYI participants have access to FSS.

Although FUP/FYI participants are eligible for FSS, some FSS programs don’t have open slots or can’t accept young people in a timely fashion, allowing some of their voucher time to elapse and limiting young people’s access. To address this, Congress can consider increasing funding to increase the number of available slots and require a minimum number of slots be used for young people so recipients can more effectively use their time-limited voucher.

Further, some PHAs don’t have FSS programs. Although FSHO allows young people in these locations to extend their voucher time by working or going to school, they’re left without FSS supports, such as a program coordinator. These young people are eligible for any other service the PHA has to offer, but PHAs should consider connecting them with community-based organizations to access the specific services they need to support their goals.

3. Tailor the FSS program to young people’s needs and developmental stage.

Because the FSS program was designed to help families achieve self-sufficiency, the services a PHA provides may not be well suited to young adults who recently aged out of foster care. FSS programs that center young people can better engage and keep them involved in the program.

Young people who recently aged out of foster care may also have needs not generally covered in an FSS program, but addressing them would make FSS more effective. Child welfare staff should provide regular training to the PHAs’ FSS program coordinators on the unique experiences and needs of young people who age out of foster care. This includes trust building, using trauma-informed approaches, and advocating for young people to employers and landlords. Further, we found that centralizing young people’s cases with one or a few FSS program coordinators allows those workers to become better acquainted with these young people’s needs and determine what adaptations to the program will better serve them.

4. Expand the set of supportive services and extend the time young people can access these services.

Young people with foster care experience, especially those who age out of the system, have likely endured trauma with their families and in the system itself. To engage successfully in activities that will lead to their self-sufficiency, they may first need to deal with this trauma. Many young people we interviewed mentioned the need for mental health services to help them transition out of foster care and live independently.

In addition to mental health services, PHAs should consider providing services not normally provided by PHAs. For example, young people we interviewed mentioned that their credit had been ruined by parents and they needed help with credit repair. Their credit situation can make it difficult for these young people to rent apartments, get loans, or obtain credit cards.

Finally, because many young people who age out of foster care may have been behind on their education and have unaddressed trauma and other mental health issues, five years for the voucher may be insufficient. This is especially true for eligible young people who are parents (FSHO allows young people who are parents of children younger than 6 to extend their voucher time limit to five years). Given these issues, many PHA staff we spoke with felt that, like FUP vouchers for families, Congress could consider removing the time limit on the vouchers, allowing young people to access support longer.

The FUP and FYI programs offer an important opportunity for young people aging out of foster care to secure housing stability. Adding access to FSS supports their successful transition to adulthood. However, the current design may be too limiting; a few changes could make the programs much more effective.