“Housing is a key component of the American dream and foster youth transitioning out of care deserve support as they work hard to achieve self-sufficiency,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Through the Melania Trump Foster Youth to Independence program, young adults across Montana are receiving the support they need to lease their first home after leaving state care. Thank you, Secretary Turner, for supporting this initiative and to child welfare advocates across Montana who help make dreams a reality.”
“I’m grateful to Governor Gianforte for bringing together foster youth, faith-based organizations, and community providers to discuss how we can help foster youth thrive after transitioning out of care,” said HUD Secretary Scott Turner. “What we heard today in Montana echoes conversations I’ve had with foster youth across the country. Their experiences will help us strengthen the Melania Trump Foster Youth to Independence program at HUD and support more foster youth as they pursue an education, succeed in a career, and build financial independence.”
Melania Trump Foster Youth to Independence program
The Melania Trump Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) program ensures youth exiting foster care have the necessary resources by awarding housing vouchers to public housing authorities (PHAs) for young adults under the age of 25 who are in, or have recently left, the foster care system. Participants are also provided with supportive services to help them work toward their educational and career goals. The FYI initiative was launched on July 26, 2019, under the leadership of former HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson.
Convening a roundtable with former foster youth, public housing authority representatives, child welfare specialists, and other community stakeholders, the governor and secretary led a discussion on how Montana communities are supporting stable housing for foster youth as they transition out of care through the FYI program.
In Montana, three of Montana’s nine PHAs currently participate in the FYI program with 40 vouchers administered in Butte, Billings, and Missoula to date, over 90 percent of which are actively housing youth. Speaking to the impact of the initiative in Montana, Sam Oliver, executive director of the Missoula Public Housing Authority, said, “One of the challenges with our programs were that the youth would have to become technically homeless to utilize this voucher. We’ve really innovated in that department to connect with case managers and youth who are preparing to age out of care so we can create a more seamless transition.”
Oliver continued, “We saw our youth having difficulty accessing housing and in a time when there is not always funding for robust services for this demographic that is often overlooked, we’ve really been able, in a short time, to close that gap to provide stable housing.”
Foster youth experiences and support services
Participating in the discussion were two former foster youth, including Kyla Boggess, a 24-year-old who utilized the FYI voucher in Missoula when she turned 18 and aged out of state care. Kyla shared with the governor and secretary about her personal story and how the voucher has played a role in helping her achieve self-sufficiency.
“I was in a domestic violence situation, like a very dependent relationship with my child’s father. Without having the voucher, I would not be able to have moved out, and me and my child would have been stuck in that relationship,” Kyla said. “But since the voucher is available and I did get some assistance, I was able to remove myself and my child from the situation. And now, since I’m not in that type of environment, I’m able to go to school, I’m able to have a meaningful job, and I’m able to not have to worry about things that would hinder that process.”
Through the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood, the federal initiative provides funding and support to help current and former foster youth transition into self-sufficient adults. It offers assistance with housing, education, employment, and financial management. Montana administers these funds as part of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services Child and Family Services Division, in partnership with Montana Chafee providers across the state.
One Chafee provider in Missoula, Andrea Graham of Youth Homes Montana, shared the challenge foster youth face in the time between turning 18 years old and securing stable housing, noting how having independent living options for youth transitioning out of care can serve as a support as they wait for the voucher approval.
National foster care and housing context
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) estimates that more than 20,000 young people transition out of foster care each year. The National Center for Housing and Child Welfare (NCHCW) estimates that approximately 25 percent of these young people experience homelessness within four years of leaving foster care. Through the FYI program, youth are also provided with supportive services to help them work toward their educational and career goals.
Today there are more than 8,900 FYI awards currently effective through 409 PHAs in 49 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Since President Trump took office, HUD has supported more than 1,700 youth with approximately $23.2 million in funding for FYI vouchers.
Reducing the number of children in foster care and supporting Montana children is a top priority for Gov. Gianforte. According to DPHHS, the number of Montana children in foster care is 1,749, down from over 3,300 in early 2021. The reduction marks a 47 percent decrease in the number of kids in care since the governor took office.
