Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, First District, released the following statement after the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved her motion on expanding housing for youth formerly in foster care:
“Youth homelessness does not get the attention it deserves. Although we did not conduct the Youth Homeless Count last year, the 2020 Count revealed a 19 percent increase in youth homelessness from the previous year. We know this is likely an undercount given that youth homelessness often is not as visible – youth live in cars, couch surf, or bounce from precarious situations. And so often, they have recently exited our foster care system – one of the greatest feeders of homelessness. That must change. The responsibility to care for our children and youth in foster care is ours. To that end, all County resources must be used to ensure these youth have stability.”
When young people exit foster care, it can be challenging to find resources and housing opportunities. And when there are resources, they are often limited in number. Transitional Housing Program Plus (THP-Plus) is one such program, but it has expanded in recent years at the direction of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. THP-Plus has been a critical housing program for youth ages 18 to 25 years old who were formerly in foster care. Governor Newsom and the California Legislature, with the partnership of John Burton Advocates for Youth, have invested significantly in this program over the last several years. On January 14, 2022, the California Department of Housing and Community Development issued an Allocation Acceptance, under the THP-Plus Housing Supplemental Program, for $9.2 million, for which Los Angeles County is eligible.
The motion approved today directs the County’s Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to participate in the THP-Plus Housing Supplemental Program and accept the funding allocation. With this motion, DCFS is slated to increase its THP-Plus housing units to 177—an almost 116% increase since 2018. Through this funding, DCFS will develop a supplemental housing rate for this program, particularly for expectant and parenting youth, as housing is not a one-size-fits-all approach.
https://hildalsolis.org/expanding-housing-for-youth-formerly-in-foster-care-at-supervisor-solis-direction/