10/12 Webinar to Discuss Expansion of Housing Navigation for Youth with Housing Vouchers

September 20, 2022

Weekly Policy Newsletter

On Wednesday, October 12^th from 10:00 am to 11:00 a.m., John Burton Advocates for Youth will host a web seminar discussing the recent budget expansion and policy changes made to the Housing Navigation and Maintenance Program (HNMP), formerly named the Housing Navigators Program. This expansion and the policy changes were prompted by the goal of enabling counties to utilize HNMP to serve former foster youth with specialized federal Housing Choice Vouchers.

HNMP is administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to county child welfare agencies to provide housing navigators to assist youth with securing and maintaining housing.

The program previously served youth ages 18 through 21 and the priority population was current foster youth. As of July 1, 2022, the upper age limit was expanded to age 24, and the priority population was expanded to include former foster youth. The annual budget for this program was expanded in the 2022-23 state budget from $5 million to $13.7 million.

JBAY will be joined on the webinar by a representative from HCD to discuss these changes and provide a refresher on the steps counties must take to accept the funding. Attendees will also learn how counties can utilize HNMP to improve the provision of Family Unification Program (FUP) and Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Vouchers. Register here or view the flyer.

9/22 & 9/29 IRS Symposiums Direct Former Foster & Homeless Youth to File Taxes, Claiming Cash Back Credits

Two Internal Revenue Service (IRS) symposiums will be held to help organizations and transition-age youth understand more about tax filing and credits that put money in their pockets. Panelists include Congressman Danny K. Davis, the Internal Revenue Service outreach staff, JBAY, and young adults who have benefited from free tax filing and credits.

Organizations serving former foster youth and youth experiencing homelessness are invited to attend the September 22^nd symposium. The September 29^th symposium is geared toward youth themselves who were previously in foster care or are currently experiencing homelessness.

The symposiums will provide information about changes to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) that now make working young adults, age 18 or older potentially eligible for up to $1,502. Panelists will provide information to help organizations and individuals plan outreach for transition-age youth who have experienced foster care or are experiencing homelessness, help people determine if they qualify, and discuss employment opportunities with the IRS. A flyer for the events is available here.

Email and Postcard Outreach Strategies Increase Rates of CalFresh Enrollment Among College Students

To address the pandemic's financial impact, the federal government expanded student eligibility for CalFresh benefits to include students who completed the FAFSA and had a $0 Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) engaged with The People Lab (TPL) and the California Policy Lab (CPL) to implement two randomized experimental low-cost outreach efforts to assess impact on enrollment outcomes. Both experiments yielded an increase in student CalFresh enrollment.

In the first experiment, a random sampling of eligible students received an email from CSAC alerting them of their potential eligibility for benefits and an invitation to apply. The strategy proved effective resulting in up to 2-3% of recipients applying for benefits within a week of receiving the email. The rate of enrollment increased further when students received a follow-up email. In the second experiment, students who received an email followed by a postcard were nearly twice as likely to enroll in benefits compared to those who received an email only. The post cards used varying forms of de-stigmatizing language and language indicating that “enough” resources were available to help all who applied. The use of simplified language in outreach material was also found to improve enrollment outcomes.

For more information on pandemic adjustments to CalFresh eligibility for students, please review the All County Letter 21-11 and the outreach materials from the California Department of Social Services.

Counties Can Petition for New Eligibility Determinations for Federal Financial Participation for Non-Minor Dependents

The California Department of Social Services has released an All County Letter informing counties that child welfare, probation, or tribal placing agencies may file a petition to dismiss dependency or transition jurisdiction and immediately resume that jurisdiction to establish a non-minor dependent’s (NMD) eligibility for federal financial participation (FFP). The letter addresses these changes to law in AB 640.

With the consent of an NMD, agencies can file a petition with a juvenile court, which may grant the petition without a hearing. The agency cannot file the petition if the NMD is categorically ineligible for Federal Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care (AFDC-FC) benefits or if the NMD is a member of a tribe or eligible for enrollment in a tribe and would likely become ineligible for services or supports. Once the petition is granted, a new agreement for extended foster care is jointly signed by the agency and NMD.

The ACL indicates that agencies must ensure an NMD does not experience any break in services or supports before, during, or after the filing or granting of petition. Eligibility establishment does not constitute a redetermination, as the court has dismissed dependency or transition jurisdiction prior to a reentry to Extended Foster Care. For more information about the petition process, read the ACL.