Housing as the key support “service” for TAY educational success

1. Housing as the key support “service” for TAY educational success Danielle Wildkress, Staff Lawyer at HomeBase

2. Overview • Introduction • Housing as a basis for education • Funding to support TAY housing

3. My agency • HomeBase is a public-policy law firm based in San Francisco, CA • We focus on homelessness- regionally and nationally • Among other things, we are HUD and SAMHSA technical assistance providers www.homebaseccc.org

4. A bit about me… • I am a lawyer. • I believe that policy need not be boring. This is exciting stuff! • At HomeBase, Iam the transition-age youth “expert”– really I just facilitate connections and help people to understand laws, regulations, and funding. Danielle@HomeBaseccc.org

5. Why am I here? A message from your friends at ICPH… “We understand that your specialty is within housing and transition age youth. While the session deals largely on education, we hope that you discuss your work with housing and unaccompanied youth.  Without housing, young adults have a much more difficult time succeeding in school, and many of your session attendees will appreciate information on housing resources for youth.”

6. Housing is the Foundation • “The most significant barrier to unaccompanied youth’s educational success is the fact that they must struggle daily to provide for their basic needs, while managing the extreme physical and emotional stress of homelessness.” • Using What We Know: Supporting the Education of Unaccompanied Homeless Youth NAEHCY (2008)

7. “Recent” Policy Shifts

8. HUD McKinney-Vento CoC Grants • Under the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act (HEARTH), the new definition of “homeless” carves out space for TAY • Final regulations for the new definition went into affect January 4, 2012 • Among other programs, it impacts who can be served with Supportive Housing Program (SHP) and Shelter Plus Care (S+C) funds

9. McKinney- a new definition (Part 1) Unaccompanied youth under 25 years of age, or families with children and youth, who do not otherwise qualify as homeless under this definition but who are defined as homeless under specific sections of the… • Runaway and Homeless Youth Act • Head Start Act • Violence Against Women Act • Public Health Service Act • Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 • Child Nutrition Act of 1966 • McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act (Section 725 ) AND

10. McKinney- a new definition (Part 2) Have not had a lease, ownership interest, or occupancy agreement in permanent housing at any time during the 60 days immediately preceding the date of application for homeless assistance; AND (All of these elements must be documented by a case manager)

11. McKinney- a new definition (Part 3) Have experienced persistent instability as measured by two (2) moves or more during the 60-day period immediately preceding the date of applying for homeless assistance; AND (This is what case files look like under the new definition)

12. McKinney- a new definition (Part 4) Can be expected to continue in such status for an extended period of time because of: • Chronic disabilities, • Chronic physical health or mental health conditions, • Substance addiction, • Histories of domestic violence or childhood abuse, • The presence of a child or youth with a disability, or • Two or more barriers to employment, which include: • The lack of a high school degree or GED, • Illiteracy, • Low English proficiency, • A history of incarceration or detention for criminal activity, and • A history of unstable employment.

13. FUP- target TAY at the local level • Family Unification Program (FUP) vouchers distributed by HUD via competitive process and administered by Public Housing Authorities (PHA) • Can be used for families as a permanent subsidy when a family is in “crisis” and housing is the solution • Can be used by former foster youth between 18 and 21 years as an 18-month subsidy • PHA has discretion with allocation procedures

15. Fostering Connections- CA Example • Fostering Connections to Success Actof2008 extended federal funding for foster care  • Participation by states is optional • The California Fostering Connections to Success Act was signed into law September 30, 2011 • Regulations went into effect on January 1, 2012

16. Fostering Connections Enrollment • Remaining in foster care after age 18 is voluntary • Foster youth can decide to exit at age 18, or any time after turning 18 • Foster youth who exit at or after age 18 can change their mind and return to foster care at any time before age 20 (or 21 if the age limit is extended in 2014)

17. Foster Connections Requirements Youth must satisfy ONE of the following conditions: • Completing high school or equivalent program (e.g. GED); OR • Enrolling in college, community college or a vocational education program; OR • Employed at least 80 hours a month; OR • Participating in a program designed to promote or remove barriers to employment; OR • Unable to do one of the above requirements because of a medical condition.

18. Fostering Connections Benefits Eligible placement options for youth after age 18 include: • Home of a relative or non-related extended family member; licensed foster family home; certified foster family agency home, or a home of a non-related legal guardian • THP-Plus Foster Care modeled after the exiting THP-Plus program • Supervised Independent Living setting. May include an apartment(with or without a roommate), room and board arrangements or college dorms. Placements are supervised by the county and a non-minor dependents may be able to receive payments directly under this option. • Group home placement can continue until age 19 or until the non-minor dependent graduates from high school

19. Questions? HomeBaseccc.org Danielle Wildkress Danielle@HomeBaseccc.org 415.788.7961 ext 301