California Bench Card: Ensuring Housing Security for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care by Utilizing FYI Vouchers

The court plays a central role in ensuring that young people have an adequate transition plan before leaving foster care and this includes a good plan for housing. The Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Voucher Program provides housing choice vouchers (formerly called “Section 8”) for young people who are leaving or have left foster care, including probation supervised foster youth. When a young person gets an FYI voucher, they are also offered services to support their success. FYI vouchers last for three years, with an option to extend the voucher for two more years. While FYI vouchers are not the only housing option available, they are a critical resource that the court should be aware of, and these vouchers are currently underutilized. This Bench Card provides judges with useful questions and guidelines to help them make decisions and take action to support housing security for young people leaving foster care.