New Notice allows PHAs to use Tenant Protection Vouchers for Youth Aging out of Foster Care

In late July, HUD published a notice titled “Tenant Protection Vouchers for Foster Youth to Independence Initiative” [PIH 2019-20 (HA)]. This notice would allow PHAs that do not have a Family Unification Program (FUP), but that have a Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program, to request a tenant protection voucher to house a FUP-eligible youth.

Public Housing Agencies must receive a referral from a partnering Public Child Welfare Agency (PCWA) to request the tenant protection voucher. While not required, HUD strongly encourages participation of a Continuum of Care (CoC). Requests may be as small as one voucher up to 25 vouchers per PHA for a fiscal year. The funding for this initiative is not from the Family Unification Program account, but from the tenant protection voucher account and is subject to the availability of funding in that account. These vouchers sunset after being used and are not to be project-based.

• PHA Eligibility Requirements:
  • PHA must have an HCV Program;
  • PHA must not administer the Family Unification Program (FUP);
  • PHA must amend its administrative plan;
  • PHA must accept FUP-eligible youth;
    • FUP-eligible youth: Youth that have met the following criteria:
      • Attained at least 18 years of age and not more than 24 years of age;
      • Left foster care, or will leave foster care, within 90 days; and
      • Are homeless or are at risk of being homeless;
  • PHA must determine eligibility;
  • PHA must have a partnership with a Public Child Welfare Agency (PCWA);
    • PCWA Roles and Responsibilities:
      • Must identify FUP-eligible youth;
      • Must have a system of prioritization;
      • Must provide written certification to PHA that youth is FUP-eligible; and
      • Must provide supportive services, including:
        • Basic life skills information (money management; meal preparation; and access to health care, etc.);
        • Counseling on compliance with rental lease requirements of the HCV program;
        • Providing reasonable assurances to rental property owners;
        • Job counseling; and
        • Educational and career advancement counseling;
    • PCWA Partnership Agreement (May take the form of a memorandum of understanding or letters of intent):
      • Must define FUP-eligible youth;
      • Must list supportive services and provide them for 36 months;
      • Must address PHA responsibilities;
      • Must address PCWA responsibilities; and
      • Must address Continuum of Care–if involved–responsibilities, including:
        • Integrating the referral process into the CoC’s coordinated entry process;
        • Identifying services; and
        • Making referrals of FUP-eligible youth to PCWAs.

The full notice may be found here.