February 9, 2021 | UPDATE FROM JOHN BURTON ADVOCATES FOR YOUTH
John Burton Advocates for Youth improves the quality of life for youth in California who have been in foster care or homeless by advocating for better laws, training communities to strengthen local practices and conducting research to inform policy solutions.
Support Needed to Bolster Cal Grant Access Award for Foster Youth to $6,000
Governor Newsom’s proposed 2021-2022 budget for next fiscal year includes over $2.6 billion in Cal Grant funding to ensure that postsecondary education is accessible and affordable for students across the state. In addition to sustained financial aid for nearly 400,000 students, the proposed budget also includes several new investments for students who face disproportionate challenges in achieving their higher education goals. Of the new investments is $20 million in ongoing funding to provide current and former foster youth with an increased Cal Grant Access Award of up to $6,000. The funds can be used for non-tuition costs such as housing, food, and transportation.
The budget proposal is currently under consideration by the legislature. JBAY is collecting signatures in support of the increased funding. To sign-on to the letter or indicate your interest in providing public comment during an upcoming hearing, click here.
Call into Budget Hearings to Reduce Foster Youth Homelessness
John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY) is requesting $18.2 million in the 2021-22 state budget and $22 million ongoing to address homelessness among current and former foster youth. In order to be successful, JBAY is requesting that people call into hearings on February 16 and 17 and March 3 to provide public comment in support.
This proposal, of which Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) is the champion, has four key provisions: 1) Establish training for child welfare workers and probation officers on housing and the homelessness response system; 2) Establish permanent funding for the Housing Navigators Program serving youth age 18 to 21, prioritizing non-minor dependents; 3) Establish permanent funding for the Transitional Housing Program serving youth age 18 to 24, prioritizing former foster and probation youth; and 4) Establish a housing supplement for the THP-Plus program in counties with the highest rental costs.
To sign onto a budget support letter or to sign up to call into any of the four upcoming budget hearings, follow this link. For more information about the budget proposal, read the sign-on letter or contact Simone Tureck Lee.
Students Call for Permanent Funding for Student Basic Needs
On February 8, the California Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance held the first hearing of the year on the higher education budget. Students, advocates and campus staff turned out in large numbers to express support for an ongoing funding allocation to address student basic needs at community colleges.
While the Governor’s budget proposal included ongoing funding for the CSU and UC systems, only a one-time allocation was included for community colleges. While prior allocations of one-time funding have been helpful in beginning to address food insecurity among students, speakers emphasized the need for ongoing funding in order for campuses to be able to create the infrastructure needed to provide basic needs support to students and plan for the future.
This budget request is a companion to a bill to be introduced by Assembly member Berman in the coming weeks that would require establishment of basic needs centers on all community college campuses. To sign up to receive information about upcoming hearings and other ways to support this effort, click here. To view a recording of the full hearing, follow this link.
Does Your Local Public Housing Authority Intend to Apply for Newly Available FYI Vouchers?
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has released a Notice of Available Funding (NOFA), due March 22, 2021 for the Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Competitive funding. FYI Competitive, nearly synonymous with Family Unification Program (FUP) vouchers, makes Housing Choice Voucher assistance available to Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) in partnership with Public Child Welfare Agencies. PHAs provide these vouchers, coupled with supportive services provided by the child welfare agency to former foster youth age 18 to 24.
Eligible applicants are PHAs who currently administer Housing Choice Vouchers. To identify local PHAs and ensure they’re aware of this opportunity, refer to this roster developed by John Burton Advocates for Youth. The roster also indicates which PHAs currently administer FUP and/or FYI.
Funding of $20 million is available through the NOFA, which will result in approximately 40 awards nationwide. No award will be less than three vouchers, and the maximum award will be based upon the size of the PHA and identified need, not to exceed 75 vouchers.
$10 million in Non-Competitive FYI vouchers is also currently available “on demand” to PHAs in increments as small as one voucher, as eligible are identified. PHAs can generally access up to 25 on-demand FYI vouchers per year with some exceptions. PHAs with larger populations of foster youth are encouraged to, in addition to accessing these on-demand vouchers, apply for the FYI Competitive funding. For more information about FYI Competitive and FYI Non-Competitive (on-demand) vouchers follow this link.
CalYOUTH Study Finds 1 in 2 Female Foster Youth had a Child by 23
Chapin Hall has released the findings from the fourth and final wave of the CalYOUTH Study, which examines California’s implementation of extended foster care through interviews with youth participants at age 17, 19, 21 and 23. The new publication documents how study participants are faring at age 23, when they have all been out of foster care for at least two years. This article highlights findings related to health and parenting.
Among all CalYOUTH participants, nearly one quarter (23.7%) of males and one half (52.3%) of females reported fathering or giving birth to at least one child by age 23. Female study participants (45.2%) were more likely to live with their child or children as a custodial parent compared to males (12.8%). There was no statistical significance found between the number of years in extended foster care and new pregnancies and childbirths since the last study interview.
Significant findings were found between the number of years in extended foster care and the number of social supports and decreased odds of being food insecure. These factors are important for young parents in raising a healthy family with support and nutrition. Read the full report here.To learn more and hear Professor Mark Courtney speak in further detail on about the final wave of the study, please listen to the January 29 webinar recording by clicking here
Youth Must File a Tax Return to Receive a Stimulus Payment
The federal stimulus bill enacted in December 2020 included $600 stimulus payments for many Americans. Youth and their supporters should be aware of two tips to ensure timely receipt of economic stimulus payments during COVID-19.
First, youth should file their 2020 taxes as soon as possible and set up direct deposit to their bank account. Tax filing is the only way to access a stimulus payment, as, unlike with the first round of stimulus payments, there is no non-filer portal for the most recent round of stimulus. Youth may still be able to obtain 2020 stimulus relief if they act quickly and will be best positioned to receive any future 2021 stimulus payments. They can access free filing assistance through the Free File Alliance to begin their 2020 federal return immediately. Filing a tax return may give them access to additional benefits as well, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit.
Second, for youth who may have been incorrectly claimed as a dependent on their parent or guardian’s taxes and thus did not receive a stimulus payment, they can claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2020 tax return. The credit requires an explanation as to why the youth should receive a stimulus payment on their own behalf. To expedite consideration, youth should file electronically and attach a pdf statement or memo within the software. For more details on these IRS tips, refer to this tip sheet from School House Connection and National Network for Youth.
Advocates Urge State to Utilize Federal Relief Funds to Provide Direct Payments to Foster Youth
The federal coronavirus relief package included $400 million to protect and assist older youth in foster care and former foster youth under age 27, of which roughly $44 million is expected to come to California. Funds will be allocated through the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program with a minimum required allocation to the Chafee Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program of roughly 12.5%.
A coalition of child welfare advocacy organization has put together a series of recommendations for how California should allocate these funds. Chief among this is to make at least 70% of the funding available to provide direct payments to both youth currently participating in extended foster care and those 18-26 who are no longer eligible for foster care support. Additional recommendations included issuing funds to youth within 45 days of receipt by the state, using prepaid cards to provide payments and creating fund disbursement policies that provide equitable, low-barrier access to emergency relief.
