Collaborating for Housing Stability: Implementing FYI in PA

Implementing FYI in PA: Collaborating for Housing Stability February 26, 2025

Review FUP and History of FYI Advocacy Learn about recent updates for the FYI program: How HUD s Notice PIH 2023-04 benefits youth, child welfare agencies and housing authorities Streamlining options for Housing Authorities through HUD Notice PIH 2024-17 Discuss strategies to maximize the usage of FYI Answer questions and brainstorm together Presentation Goals 2

HUD: United States Department of Housing and Urban Development FUP: Family Unification Program FYI: Foster Youth to Independence Program Acronyms PCWA: Public Child Welfare Agency PHA: Public Housing Authority NOFO: Notice of Funding Opportunity ILS: Independent Living Services 3

1. The FUP Program began in 1990. 2. Enacted to address the housing needs of: Families who are at risk of entering the child welfare system or could end system involvement if housing was available. (These vouchers are not time limited) Youth who are aging out. (These vouchers are time limited.) The Family Unification Program (FUP) 3. Competitive process Housing Authorities respond to a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Not all PHAs that apply are awarded FUP. 4

1. FYI builds upon the strengths of FUP vouchers and seeks to make the program more responsive to youth s needs. Challenges the FYI program aims to address included: Many jurisdictions did not have FUP. Development of the FYI Program Lack of timely access to vouchers that resulted in period of homelessness rather than a planned transition. 2. Developed through the advocacy of the Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities (FSHO) Coalition, led by ACTION Ohio and the National Center for Housing and Child Welfare. 5

1. FSHO Coalition presented a plan to HUD to synchronize FUP with a young person s emancipation from foster care 2. On July 26, 2019, HUD announced the Fostering Youth to Independence Initiative. 3. FYI became a permanent part of federal law in 2020. 42 U.S.C.A. 1437f(x)(2). 4. In March 0f 2024, Congress appropriated $30 million for the FUP program, with $25 million allocated for non- competitive FYI vouchers. The law also: Eliminates the requirement that PHAs place young people on the general HCV waiting list. Directs HUD to encourage PHAs to amend their Administrative Plan to include FYI. Development of the FYI Program 6

The FYI initiative is a distribution mechanism for FUP youth vouchers that is now in federal law. FUP and FYI vouchers require a collaboration between the public child welfare agency (PCWA) and a public housing authority (PHA). The PHA administers the vouchers and the PCWA verifies foster care eligibility and provides or arranges for supportive services. The PCWA verifies foster care eligibility and provides or arranges for services. Examples can include: Leveraging IL services Using existing community based services Developing partnerships with providers already serving young people, including the provisions of case management services FYI Overview 7

FYI and Youth FUP Eligibility Be at least 18 and no more than 24 years old (through age 24), Have left foster care or will leave foster care in the next 90 days, Be homeless or at risk of becoming homeless at the age of 16 or older. FYI Eligibility **A youth s initial foster care involvement can be at any age. HUD FYI FAQ, Q 31. **At risk of homelessness is defined at 24 CFR 576.2 8

FYI vouchers last for three years, but can be extended for two additional years if the young adult is participating in the Family Self Sufficiency Program (FSS) and/or working or going to school. The FSS Program allows young people to build assets. Any increase in their income that would result in an rental increase is put in an interest bearing escrow account. If the PHA does not have an FSS program, a youth is eligible for a two year extension if they are: obtaining a secondary or postsecondary credential enrolled in an institution of higher education participating in a career pathway/workforce program employed FYI Voucher Length In this situation, there is not opportunity for an escrow account. Young people are also eligible for FSS or its alternative if they: are caring for a child under 6 or someone who is incapacitated, regularly and actively participating in addiction treatment, incapable of participating in the the listed activities due to a medical condition. 42 U.S.C.A. 1437f (x). 9

The Referral Process Young person can ask a social worker, their Independent Living Program (ILP) Worker (if they have one) to refer them to the PCWA. If the young person is still in foster care or EFC, the PCWA should prepare and make the referral as early in the transition planning process as possible. The PCWA verifies foster care eligibility and sends the referral to the PHA. The youth complete the Housing Choice Voucher application. The PHA can send the request to HUD 90 days prior to foster care discharge. If they are out of foster care and have not reached their 25th birthday, the referral can be made at any time, BUT the HAP contract must be signed before the young person reaches age 25. Other entities of organizations make a referral to the PHA, but the PCWA must confirm foster care status. HUD FYI FAQ #77. FYI Basics 10

1. Competitive FYI Vouchers distributed through a NOFO. 2. Non-competitive FYI Vouchers distributed on demand. HUD makes FYI vouchers available to PHAs in 2 ways 11

1. Made available through a NOFO (like FUP vouchers.) 2. In a NOFO, a PHA applies for a certain number of FYI vouchers. If the PHA is successful and receives those vouchers, they will then distribute them to young people (in collaboration with the PCWA). 3. 18 awards made in 2021. Only two were made to PHAs in PA (Philadelphia and Chester) 4. 16 awards were made in 2022. Only one award was made to a PHA in PA (Philadelphia). 5. The last NOFO resulted in $3.4 million in FYI vouchers being issued to 38 PHAs in 19 states on July 26th, 2024. (No PHAs in PA received vouchers under this NOFO). Competitive FYI Vouchers 12

Vouchers are distributed on a rolling basis. Guidance is provided in PIH 2023-04. Once the PCWA and PHA have an agreement (LOI or MOU), The PHA can request vouchers on demand from HUD by using this HUD form. PPT to walk through the form. PHAs can request up to 50 vouchers per federal fiscal year. Requests can be made one by one or in batches to be responsive to local needs. PHAs do NOT have to have a 90% utilization rate to request vouchers. (PHAs can provide a narrative re: how they are working on their utilization rate.) Non-Competitive Vouchers 13

1. All PHAs that issue HCVs are eligible to administer FYI vouchers. 2. PHAs can have FUP and FYI vouchers. 3. Clarification that you can use a letter of intent or MOU. 4. Clarification that the PCWA can provide or arrange for provision of services. 5. Clarification that CoC do not need to be part of the FYI process (but can be included) and young people cannot be required to go through the Coordinated Entry Process. HUD FYI FAQ Q 76. Summary of Important Updates to FYI in PIH 2023-04 14

1. Opportunity to extend FYI vouchers for 2 additional years with participation in the FSS or similar program. 2. Provides PHAs the opportunity to request more FYI vouchers even if they do not have a 90% utilization rate. 3. PHAs can request up to 25 vouchers each federal fiscal year with the option to request 25 more (with a total of 50 vouchers per PHA per year). Summary of Important Updates to FYI Federal Fiscal Year: October 1-September 30th 15

Reminds PHAs of existing flexibilities that aid in removing barriers that individuals face in securing vital documents needed for the voucher application process. Provide PHAs a new opportunity to request waivers for individuals experiencing homelessness related to (1) third-party verification of date of birth and a person s disability status, and (2) third-party verification of income and assets. HUD PIH Notice 2024- 17, Streamlining Options for PHAs 16

The PHA may accept as verification of an individuals SSN the applicant s self-certification of SSN and at least one-third party document, such as a bank statement, utility or cell phone bill, benefit letter, etc. Third party verification is also permissible for proof of income. PHAs may accept self-certification of zero income from the applicant. Existing Flexibilities 17

3 Of the 69 PHAs in PA, 17 Have Requested Non- Competitive FYI Vouchers Listupdated by HUD as of April 30, 2024 18

Identify young people for referrals at least 6-9 months before discharge and begin pulling together documentation for the HCV application. Devote resources or collaborate with community based organizations to recruit and maintain landlords who are ready to go when you have young people ready to use a voucher. (Landlord incentives, mitigation funds) Develop collaborations and connections with community based organization that already provide support services that young people may be eligible for and could meet the service requirement (WIOA programs, campus support programs, general Careerlink programs, behavioral health case management etc). Practice Tips 19

There is little administrative burden to request non- competitive FYI vouchers. After verifying a youth s foster care status, the PCWA can refer the young person to the PHA for a voucher. The PHA sends an email to HUD to request the voucher. The CWA can expedite the process related to the youth submitting the Housing Choice Voucher application by beginning it as soon as the possible, including collecting vital documents. Addressing Barriers: Administrative Burdens 20

Services can be provided by or arranged by the PCWA and can include community based services that a young person is already eligible for, including: IL services Services already provided by the PHA Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Services Behavioral health services Campus Support Programs Addressing Barriers: Connection & Provision of Services 21

Partner with organizations that have expertise recruiting landlords. Use Chafee funds to spend time recruiting and supporting landlords. Addressing Barriers: Finding Landlords 22

Housing Liaisons -Community Meetings, Homelessness Coalitions Landlord and Property Manager Engagement Promising Practices and Examples Landlord Risk or Eviction Mitigation Funds Relationships with affordable housing developers -What is currently being developed or is under construction? 23

Most recent HUD guidance on non-competitive FYI vouchers: PIH 2023-04: https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/OCHCO/documents/2023- 04pihn.pdf HUD s FYI and FUP Resource Page: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/p rograms/hcv/fyi Sample MOU between a CWA and a PHA: https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PIH/documents/The_SAMPLE _FYI_MOU_Updated_5.2023.docx Application form for a PHA to request a FYI vouchers: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=xSRVY ekizUuokxGApT_Hsk87tlyyQEVAhG55Zd12yGBUNVNTU1lDVl EwMUhLRzdGQVhOUlZETTJVSyQlQCN0PWcu HUD s List of PHAs administering FYI vouchers: https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PIH/documents/FYI_Program _Effective_Awards_and_Leasing_10.31.2023_wp.xlsx Resources 24

List of PHAs in Pennsylvania: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HtOavaVoVKwl1lPbkRQ 0c0zVM5K5A0HT/edit Youth Law Center s FYI Tools and Resource List: https://www.ylc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/List-of-FYI- Resources-for-Advocates-in-California-and-Nationwide- Google-Docs.pdf HUD s FAQ on FYI: https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PIH/documents/_Final_Clean_ FYI_FAQs_10.25.2024.pdf Resources 25

Thank You! Jenny Pokempner jpokempner@ylc.org 26