Where to look for immediate support.
NFYI is a national policy and advocacy organization — we work to change the systems foster youth live inside, but we're not set up to process individual applications or take on casework ourselves. What we can do is point you somewhere real. Below are the requests we hear most, and the organizations built to help with each one.
Where to look: almost everything below is run at the state or county level, not nationally — so each section ends with a quick way to search for the local version near you.
Paying for college
If you spent time in foster care, there's real money set aside for you specifically — most people just don't know it exists or how to apply.
Chafee Education & Training Vouchers (ETV)
A federal program, run by your state, that gives current and former foster youth up to $5,000 a year for college or vocational training, usually until age 26.
studentaid.gov/foster-youth →FAFSA — you file as independent
If you were in foster care at 13 or older, you file the FAFSA without parent information — this alone can unlock more federal aid, including Pell Grants.
studentaid.gov/fafsa →State tuition waivers
Most states waive some or all tuition at public colleges for people formerly in foster care. Eligibility and deadlines vary a lot by state.
See Foster Care to Success's state list →Foster Care to Success
A national nonprofit that gives direct tuition grants, book money, and an academic coach to former foster youth in college.
fc2success.org →Struggling with student loans
Start with the federal government's own site before anyone else's — it's free, and it's the only place that can actually change your loan.
Federal Student Aid
Call or visit studentaid.gov to find your loan servicer, switch to an income-driven repayment plan, or check what forgiveness programs you may qualify for.
studentaid.gov/forgiveness →Income-Driven Repayment (IDR)
Caps your monthly federal loan payment based on what you actually earn — sometimes $0 — with forgiveness of what's left after 20–25 years.
Compare repayment plans →Public Service Loan Forgiveness
If you work full-time for a nonprofit or government employer, qualifying payments can lead to forgiveness after 10 years.
studentaid.gov/pslf →Borrower defense & school closures
If your school misled you or closed while you were enrolled, you may qualify to have some or all of that debt discharged.
studentaid.gov/borrower-defense →Legal help
Whether it's your rights in care, a housing dispute, or something with a former guardian, there are lawyers who work specifically on foster youth issues.
National Center for Youth Law
Legal advocacy and know-your-rights resources focused specifically on kids and young adults in the child welfare system.
youthlaw.org →Juvenile Law Center
Youth rights organization with plain-language guides on foster care, education, and juvenile justice law.
jlc.org →LawHelp.org
Enter your state to find free and low-cost legal aid organizations near you — not foster-care specific, but a reliable way into your local legal aid network.
lawhelp.org →National Homelessness Law Center
A know-your-rights guide written specifically for youth experiencing homelessness, including housing and ID issues.
homelesslaw.org →Housing & food, right now
If today is about getting somewhere safe or getting food on the table, start here first — everything else can wait.
211
A free, nationwide line that connects you to local shelter, food, utility, and rent assistance — available by phone or at 211.org.
211.org →National Runaway Safeline
24/7 crisis line by call, text, or chat for youth — including people in or from foster care — with local referrals for shelter and safety.
1800runaway.org →National Homelessness Law Center
Practical, rights-focused guidance for youth who are unhoused or at risk, including on shelters that turn young people away.
homelesslaw.org →Feeding America
Enter your ZIP code to find the food bank, pantry, or mobile distribution nearest you — over 200 member food banks nationwide, no cost, no catch.
feedingamerica.org →SNAP / EBT benefits
Monthly grocery assistance you apply for through your state. USDA's directory routes you to your local SNAP office and that state's application.
fna.usda.gov/snap →Essentials, work & school supplies, home goods
Starting a job, a semester, or a first apartment all come with a hidden price tag — a laptop, an interview outfit, pots and pans. These help close that gap.
One Simple Wish
Post your own wish for something specific you need — a laptop, work shoes, a bed frame, school supplies — and have it funded directly by a stranger.
onesimplewish.org →PCs for People
A national nonprofit selling refurbished laptops and desktops at deep discounts (often under $100) to anyone receiving SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, or with income under 200% of the federal poverty line — no donation required, just proof of eligibility.
pcsforpeople.org →Dress for Success
Free interview and work attire for women, plus career coaching, through local affiliates nationwide — usually accessed through a referral once you have an interview scheduled.
dressforsuccess.org →Finding what's near you
Almost every program above has a local version with its own name, its own application, and its own deadlines. Here's the fastest way to find it.
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1
Ask the person already assigned to you
A caseworker, CASA, guardian ad litem, or independent living coordinator usually knows the local programs by name and can often help with the paperwork directly.
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2
Dial 211
Free, nationwide, and built exactly for this — it routes you to local housing, food, and family support services by ZIP code.
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3
Check your county's Department of Social Services / Children & Family Services website
Look for a page called "Independent Living" or "Extended Foster Care" — that's usually where local ETV, tuition waiver, and housing program links live.
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4
If you're in school, ask about a campus program by name
Search "[your college] + guardian scholars" or "foster youth support program" — many campuses have one, even if it's not advertised widely.