California Franchise Tax Board Reports $1.3 Million Claimed for Newly Established Foster Youth Tax Credit

In the first month of the tax season 1,323 current and former foster youth have received $1,353,449 in processed tax refunds of the new Foster Youth Tax Credit (FYTC) according to the California Franchise Tax Board. With this money in pocket, foster youth can maintain housing, purchase food, secure transportation and address the many urgent issues that can easily derail their hard-won progress.

California established the first ever poverty-reducing tax credit for foster youth, thanks to the leadership of Governor Newsom and his Administration, the State Legislature, former State Controller Betty Yee, and county and nonprofit partners. 22 counties have opted-in to the California Foster Youth Tax Filing Challenge agreeing to refer current and former foster and probation youth to free tax filing services and events. With money in the bank of youth, their efforts are already paying dividends.

Join John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY) and our partners to educate youth and their communities about the new tax credit by using our tax filing resources including our guide, tax prep checklist, social media toolkit, and videos showing how to claim the credit using www.myfreetaxes.org. Current and former foster youth can receive a free tax filing appointment through a dedicated Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site using this roster. 

JBAY Report Finds 21% Reduction in Youth Homelessness in California, Outpacing the National Average of 8%

According to a new report issued by JBAY, there is a bright spot in the seemingly intractable issue of homeless in California: unaccompanied homeless youth.

The report draws on information from the Point-In-Time (PIT) count, which is required for all communities that receive funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The JBAY report compared rates of youth homelessness between 2020 and 2022 to understand how recent state investments have impacted the issue statewide.

According to the analysis, the overall number of unaccompanied homeless youth in California decreased 21% from 13,299 to 10,451. This contrasts with the total number of individuals experiencing homelessness in California, which increased 6% from 161,458 to 171,521.

The report finds that the reduction in youth homelessness outpaced other states. California experienced a 21% reduction in youth homelessness as compared to an 8% reduction in all other states. In addition to an overall reduction in youth homelessness, the report found a decrease in the rate of unsheltered homeless youth, from 74% in 2020 to 66% in 2022. It also found a 33% decrease in the number of children of homeless youth, from 1,653 children to 1,048 children.

The analysis also examined rates of youth homelessness in large cities, finding that California’s 13 large cities experienced a lower rate of decrease in youth homelessness than the rest of the state. Rural areas of California experienced a slightly higher decrease in youth homelessness than urban areas, 26% vs. 21%. Learn more by reading the full report. 

California Housing Authorities Receive $5.2 Million in New Housing Vouchers for Former Foster Youth, 40% of Awards Nationwide

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) last week awarded $12.9 million to 16 Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) in nine states to provide housing assistance to young adults transitioning out of foster care and who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Five of these 16 PHAs are located in California and are collectively receiving $5.2 million, approximately 40% of nationwide funding.

The funding was awarded through HUD’s Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Initiative, which offers Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) assistance to PHAs that provide housing assistance to youth between 18 and 24 years old who left foster care or will leave foster care in the next 90 days and are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Of the 822 FYI vouchers awarded nationwide, 270 were awarded to PHAs in California.

The five California PHAs receiving FYI vouchers are: Los Angeles County Development Authority, County of Sacramento Housing Authority, Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara, Housing Authority of San Jose, and County of Sonoma. JBAY offers a list of all California PHAs and which vouchers they offer here.

JBAY is currently leading an FYI Community of Practice with participation from 15 California county child welfare agencies, Public Housing Authorities, and their community partners to increase the number of FYI vouchers available in these communities and remove obstacles to access. 

Virtual Sex Ed Classes Available to Foster Youth Over March & April 2023

California foster youth ages 12 to 17, or 18 and enrolled in high school can register for Teen Talk in Alternative Settings (Teen Talk YAS), a free, virtual sexual education course by Health Connected. Spring break sessions are currently being offered over March and April. For specific dates, view this flyer.

Teen Talk YAS complies with SB 89 requirements for comprehensive sexual health education for youth in foster care. Through collaboration with Planned Parenthood of Pasadena & San Gabriel Valley, the curriculum has been adapted for virtual delivery.

The series includes 11 synchronous online sessions with a special focus on personal values, communication skills, wellness and safety, and incorporates trauma-informed and health-centered instructional practices. The sessions take place via Zoom, so youth must be able to participate individually from their own device.

Youth have the potential to receive a total of $265 in Amazon gift cards for participating. Youth will earn $15 per session they attend, and a $100 bonus for attending all sessions. Incentives will be distributed at the end of the series. Teen Talk YAS is available as part of the collective work of the Reproductive Health Equity Project for Foster Youth (RHEP). 

Upcoming Webinars, Trainings, and Events



• The Evaluation of College Focused Rapid Rehousing: A Model for Addressing Homelessness for CSU and CA Community College Students

• JBAY Monthly Free Self-Filing Tax Event for Transition Age Youth

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