Foster care is designed to provide temporary housing and care for children and adolescents until they can be either reunited with their family, taken in by relatives, adopted, or emancipated as an adult. Too often, however, youth that pass through the foster care system fail to find permanent homes, transitioning from one living situation to another, and a large percentage experience homelessness at some point in their lives.
An average of 1 out of every 4 youth in foster care will become homeless within 4 years of aging out of foster care1?
Youth still in foster care at the time of their 18th birthday (21st birthday in some states) are “emancipated”, or released shortly after reaching the age of majority. With little or no money to support themselves and often with no family members to turn to, many former foster youth find themselves without a permanent place to live.
Through our partnerships with community-based organizations. NFYI works to connect foster youth and former foster youth with resources and assistance as they prepare for life after foster care.
Sources:
1https://www.fosterclub.com/sites/default/files/foster-care-infographic.jpg
Help us raise awareness of housing issues
for current and former foster youth