Catalyzing Change in Systems Serving Transition Aged Youth Experiencing Homelessness or Housing Instability in Six Bay Area Counties

This project is a collaboration between Youth Law Center and Tipping Point Community, which focuses on catalyzing significant change in systems serving transition aged youth who are currently homeless or experiencing housing instability in six Bay Area counties. The resources collected on this page focus on civil legal entitlements available to youth experiencing homelessness, in an effort to promote ongoing safety, economic stability, and long-term success through connection to legally required supports.

The resources provided here cover, for example: 

• Funding streams available for youth experiencing homelessness; 
• Housing programs, including Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) housing vouchers and other subsidized housing opportunities; 
• Health and behavioral health programs, including entitlements to community-based therapeutic supports through Medi-Cal; 
• Special supports and protections for vulnerable communities, including LGBTQIA+ youth, immigrants and refugees, indigenous youth, and others.

Public benefits and funding streams should be available equally to prevent and address homelessness for all youth. However, youth of color, particularly Black youth, face serious inequities in accessing these benefits and supports due to structural racism. Additionally, the consequences and harm of homelessness are amplified for Black youth and youth of color. Black youth who experience homelessness are at a higher risk of sex trafficking, becoming the victim of a violent crime, or being arrested and subsequently involved in the juvenile justice system. Similar findings have been documented for LGBTQIA+ youth. 

This project works toward ensuring that youth of color and LGBTQIA+ youth have equal access to the public benefits, resources, and supports they are entitled to under existing law and strengthening the advocacy required to guarantee that access. Additionally, the project turns an eye toward building policy readiness to ensure that youth of color and LGBTQIA+ who are excluded from the child welfare system, but have similar needs to systems-involved youth, have full access to supports necessary for stability and success.

Please visit the Resources for Advocates tab to access a library of legal resources we have created and compiled specifically for providers who serve youth.