CSAC would like to highlight the good work of the Supportive
Housing Division of the Los Angeles County Department of Children
and Family Services (DCFS), who have secured dozens of vouchers
for current and former foster youth. Through the federal
Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) program, any Housing
Authority can access up to 50 vouchers per year for former foster
youth, former probation youth, or non-minor dependents who
haven’t yet turned 25 by partnering with their local Public Child
Welfare Agency.
In order to facilitate the acceptance of those vouchers, LA
County DCFS has created a framework which supports Housing
Authorities in applying for the vouchers. They have a streamlined
application process where a single application serves every
Housing Authority, significant support through interviewing each
application to determine eligibility and qualification for the
program, and even back-end housing navigation for some housing
authorities through state programming and partnerships with the
Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). It is a unique
way to house more young people, especially those who are already
employed or in school and might have a hard time qualifying for
other services.
For more information regarding this program, you can contact
Dexter O’Connell, Safe Place for Youth at: dextero@safeplaceforyouth.org.
