1.6 Improving Outcomes for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care Speaker: Brenda Fonseca Nearly 28,000 youth emancipated from foster care in 2010, and it is imperative that they have access to services, affordable housing options, education, and employment to prepare them to live independently. Communities that have extended foster care to older youth under the Fostering Connections Act and that are creatively using resources to increase housing opportunities will discuss their successes and lessons learned.

1. A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO PROVIDE
HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH
AGING OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE
SYSTEM.
Brenda R. Fonseca
Deputy Director of Housing Programs
Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority
bfonseca@snvrha.org
702-922-6958 1 1

2. “Can’t Do It Alone”
This title, which is from the Child Welfare League
of America’s 2004 booklet, says it all!!
Collaborations are a “must” solution.
“Research documents that youth transitioning out
of the foster care system experience a variety of
negative outcomes, including homelessness.”
Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Administrators
nationwide are in a position to make a difference.
2

3. Need for Preference / Vouchers
As we are all aware, there is a great need for
affordable housing throughout our nation.
Those of you that work directly with Child and
Family Services know first hand that the need for
permanent housing for youth aging out of the
Foster Care system is the missing link in
preventing homelessness for many youth.
3

4. Proactive Measure to Prevent
Homelessness
As a proactive measure, the Southern Nevada Regional
Housing Authority created a local waitlist preference for its
Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program for foster youth
aging out of the Foster Care System.
With the success of the first ten youth, we have increased
the allocation to 20 per year.
We have successfully assisted 43 youth aging out of the
foster care system.
How many former Foster Youth could your agency help????
4

5. Proactive Measure to Prevent
Homelessness
Unlike Family Unification Program (FUP) Vouchers that are
only allowed to assist foster youth for 18 months, these are
regular vouchers with no time limits attached!!
Jointly, we can address permanent housing for youth
nationwide, including working with HUD staff to address the
issue in the FUP program which limits the use of FUP
vouchers to 18 months.
All youth must be referred by the Department of Child and
Family Services and meet the pre-establish criteria, including
HUD requirements for all voucher recipients.
5

6. Permanent Housing vs. Transitional
Housing
Stable permanent housing must be established for
youth aging out of the Foster Care system in our
country.
Failure to address this will result in increased
homelessness especially in the current economic
environment.
Stable housing results in stable employment and
self-sufficiency.
6

7. Steps to Implement Program
After establishing this concept, we contacted HUD
Headquarters in Washington, DC to ensure that
our agency would not be violating any HUD
regulations governing the HCV Program or Fair
Housing policy.
Once we received HUD’s approval, we contacted
our County Commissioner requesting his support
of the endeavor by arranging a meeting with the
county child welfare administrator.
7 7

8. Steps to Implement Program
The Child Welfare Administrators were
excited about this endeavor, as permanent
housing is a primary missing link in their
supportive services plan.
8

9. Program Criteria
Youth must be at least 18 years of age or an
emancipated youth.
Youth are encouraged to participate in continued
supportive services, such as case management,
including budgeting; housekeeping; and other self-
sufficiency referral services.
A preference for enrollment in our agency’s Family
Self-Sufficiency Program was also established.
9 9

10. Expanding Partnership
The program partners have expanded to include:
United Way
The Casey Foundation
Nevada’s Workforce Investment Board
Olive Crest
Project-Sunshine
Department of Family Services (DFS)
Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority
These agencies along with DFS staff are
providing on-going case management including
job training/placement; budgeting, and
10 10
self-sufficiency assistance.

11. Ensuring the Partnership Works
Scheduled several meetings to determine the pre-
screening and eligibility criteria of the HCV
Program as well as eligibility for the preferences
are understood by all parties.
Staff from DFS attended several HCV briefings
which were held for other HCV recipients to
ensure they gained a clear understanding of the
HCV program requirements prior to the first
voucher being issued to the youths.
DFS and SNRHA both assigned lead persons to
coordinate the services between agencies.
11

12. A Four Way Partnership Expands
Services
The idea of this program escalated rapidly
into a great partnership between United
Way and Nevada’s Workforce Investment
Board.
A Request for Purchase (RFP) was issued
to a non-profit organization to provide job
training and placement for these youth; as
well as additional case management. The
award was for over $400,000.00!!!
12

13. Job Training
The recipient of the RFP was Olive Crest.
They evaluated the status of each youth
participating in this program, provided job
training and placement to include a 90 day
on-the-job training with wages paid via the
grant to companies willing to participate.
Olive Crest worked with all parties to
complete logic models to document
outcomes of this program.
13

14. Family Self Sufficiency (FSS)
To ensure the successful transition
of each youth in becoming truly self-
sufficient, we created a preference for them
for admission into our FSS program.
14

15. Lessons Learned to Date
Better upfront screening of referrals
More DFS staff upfront training
Need for more monitoring; including linking
services.
15

16. Photos of First Selected Foster Youth
(Left: Commissioner Lawrence Weekly)
16

17. Photos of Youth at their HCV
Briefing to be Issued A Voucher
17

18. Memorandums of Understanding
(MOUs)
I will provide a copy of the MOU used to
established the partnership with DFS and our
expanded partnership with United Way, Workforce
Investment, Olive Crest, and Project Sunshine
upon request.
Please send an e-mail to me at
bfonseca@snvrha.org to request a copy and
language in our Administrative Plan relating to this
program.
18

19. Hear their plea(s)…
19

20. 20

21. 21

22. 22

23. Let’s Make a Difference!
As HCV Administrators and
Commissioners, we develop policies.
Let’s start implementing policies that are
proactive in serving our communities.
Isn’t this a great way to start?
23

24. Contact Information
Brenda R. Fonseca
Deputy Director of Housing Programs
(702) 922-6958
email: bfonseca@snvrha.org
24

25. Questions
25