Youth Homelessness Decreased 21% in California Since 2020, According to 2022 Homeless Point-In-Time Count

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has released its 2022 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report to Congress, which summarizes the results of the national homeless Point-In-Time Count. The data show that homelessness among unaccompanied and parenting youth decreased by more than one-fifth (21%) between 2020 and 2022. This decrease did not mirror the experience of the general homeless population—homelessness overall increased 6% in California during that same time period.

California has the largest population of homeless youth in the U.S.; 10,451 (29%) of the nation’s 36,488 homeless youth reside here. In California, youth make up 6% of the state’s homeless population, down from 8% in 2020. The majority of California’s homeless youth are nonminors (87%), and 8% of the state’s homeless youth are parenting.

The decrease in California’s youth homelessness occurred among those who were experiencing unsheltered homelessness—this population decreased 30%, whereas the sheltered homeless youth population remained relatively consistent (2% increase).

The overall reduction corresponds to new state investments in youth homelessness, which were first appropriated in the 2018-19 state budget, and rolled out at the local level beginning in 2019. Since 2018, the state has appropriated $533 million for youth homelessness through three state homelessness programs which require a minimum proportion of funding be focused on youth.

The program with the largest youth homelessness investment to date is the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) program, which requires local jurisdictions to spend at least 10% of their HHAP funding on youth. Advocates are currently calling for an ongoing investment in HHAP, along with policy changes to strengthen the program.

Foster Youth Education Summit Registration Opens

The 2023 California Foster Youth Education Summit, which will take place at the Hyatt Regency Orange County on March 27-28, 2023, is now open for registration. This year's theme is "Imagine * Inspire * Innovate: Practices That Ensure the Educational Success of Students in Foster Care." The conference will feature over 50 unique workshops on a variety of topics including mentoring, self-care, data, CSEC, transportation and topics specifically designed to help students help themselves.

For details about the event and to register, click here.

Proposed Budget Increases Education Funding and Largely Maintains Funding for California’s Most Vulnerable

Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled his proposed budget last week for the 2023-24 fiscal year, which would decrease overall spending by about 3% to $297.7 billion. Cuts and delayed investments were largely concentrated in the areas of climate and certain housing programs. Spending for health and human services programs governed by the state budget were largely held at current spending levels. $1 billion in funding for the fifth round of the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) Program is also maintained in the budget. The proposed budget also leverages potential Medicaid funds for homelessness prevention and rehousing assistance if select waivers are approved by the federal government. This includes the CalAIM Transitional Rent Waiver Amendment, which would provide up to six months of rent or temporary housing to eligible unhoused individuals or those at risk of homelessness who are transitioning out of institutions or foster care and are at risk of inpatient hospitalization or emergency care.

K-12 and higher education spending would see increases under the budget proposal. UC and CSU would receive a 5% increase in base state support. K-12 systems and California Community Colleges would receive an 8.13% COLA, and Community Colleges would receive $200 million to address enrollment declines. Efforts to expand financial aid for California’s students would also continue, with Newsom proposing $227 million more for the Middle Class Scholarship program.

The budget references the possible consolidation of community college categorical programs, but no detail is provided regarding which programs would be included in such a consolidation. Programs like NextUp, basic needs support and support for college focused rapid rehousing programs could be included, reducing their impact on the intended target population.

An overview from California Budget & Policy Center can be found at this link. 

New CalYOUTH Brief Identifies Importance of Resources for Parenting Youth in Foster Care

Child Protective Services (CPS) should prioritize the needs of foster youth who become parents while in care, according to a new report from the Transition-Age Youth Research and Evaluation Hub (TAY-Hub). The study, entitled “Parents in Foster Care: Trends Over Time from the CalYOUTH Study,” followed youth in care and after exiting, through age 23. 

The study found that 6.8% of youth at age 17 had a living child. This proportion steadily increased across ages, with 41.7% of youth at age 23 having one or more children. Similarly, there was an increase in the number of children that parents had as they grew older—at age 23, over one-third of parenting youth had two children, and approximately 10% had three or more children.

Given that the majority of parenting foster youth live with their children, the brief recommends that transitional housing programs provide housing and services appropriate for both TAY parents and their children. Additionally, the brief indicates efforts should be made to ensure youth in foster care receive sex education and reproductive health services to ideally delay becoming a parent and/or help prevent closely spaced repeat pregnancies.

Although mothers make up the majority of parents, a non-trivial proportion of males in foster care become parents as well, pointing to the importance of exploring father-friendly or father-centered services. Lastly, the brief notes that appropriate screening and referrals for parenting supports could benefit many of these young families, such as home visiting programs targeting TAY.

Upcoming Webinars, Trainings, and Events

• The Overlooked Obstacle Part 2: Strengthening Satisfactory Academic Progress Policies to Better Support Student Success and Equity

• $1,083 reasons to file your taxes – California’s New Foster Youth Tax Credit



• 2023 Reproductive Health Equity Project Virtual Conference

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