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September 2012Vol. 13, No. 8Chafee Housing Funds for Youth

A new report prepared by the Urban Institute and funded by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) explores States' use of Chafee Foster Care Independence Program funds for housing for transitioning youth. Chafee provides $140 million annually for Independent Living services for youth exiting foster care. States are permitted to use up to 30 percent of their respective Chafee allocations to meet the housing needs of youth after they leave care. The report examines how States use these funds, in addition to other State and Federal funding sources, to provide housing to this population.

The authors, during the spring and summer 2011, examined various State documents and websites and contacted State Independent Living Coordinators to gather information. The report's findings represent only one-third of States, those that use the maximum 30 percent of their Chafee funds to provide housing to transitioning youth.

A majority of the States in the report use Chafee housing funds to help youth with beginning rental costs, ongoing support, and emergency funds. Other States have developed their own housing assistance services, many of which are time limited and available only to youth who meet certain criteria.

The report, Housing Assistance for Youth Who Have Aged Out of Foster Care: The Role of the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program, is available on the ASPE website, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
 
http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/12/chafeefostercare/rpt.pdf (468 KB)

Related Item

See "Housing for Newly Independent Youth" in this issue.