The rate for housing subsidies for those who have experienced foster care hasn’t been increased since 1988! This year’s #NYSBudget must modernize the subsidy by raising the rate, indexing it to inflation, and including youth up to age 24. Many young people that leave foster care without any family ties, or “age out”, are faced with homelessness. This year’s #NYSBudget must include S.2038-A/A.2525-A to modernize preventive housing subsidies and support youth who experienced foster care.

Stuck at $300 a month since 1988, the child welfare housing subsidy can no longer stabilize housing. NY must: 

🔺Raise the monthly amount to $725 

🔺Index to inflation 

🔺Raise the maximum age for youth in foster care to 24 

Now is the time to strengthen the child welfare housing subsidy. It currently provides only $300 a month to youth transitioning out of foster care and families entering the child welfare system.  

When youth in foster care lose state support at age 21, they are faced with severe housing instability and often homelessness. New York can prevent this by strengthening the child welfare housing subsidy, which currently only provides $300 a month. Housing is a major issue for all New Yorkers. Don’t leave youth and families involved in the child welfare system behind. The child welfare housing subsidy has not been increased in 35 years! $300 a month is not enough to stabilize housing in New York. 

It’s not 1988 anymore, but NY’s housing subsidy for youth and families involved in the child welfare system hasn’t budged since then! This is the year to modernize the subsidy in the #NYSBudget.

Click here for a “Modernizing Child Welfare” fact sheet.