$12.7 Million Available for Competitive FYI Voucher Awards: June 17 Application Deadline

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for $12.7 million in Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) vouchers, due June 17, 2024. FYI vouchers provide a deep rental subsidy to former foster youth for up to 36 months, accompanied by supportive services. HUD expects to make 20 awards ranging between 3 and 75 vouchers each, with a funding ceiling of $1.7 million.

The NOFO is open to eligible Public Housing Authorities (PHAs), who administer the vouchers to youth aged 18 to 24 who have left foster care or will leave within 90 days. PHAs must partner with Public Child Welfare Agencies, which are responsible for referring, verifying eligibility, and providing or securing supportive services for the life of the voucher. FYI vouchers can be extended for an additional 24 months through participation in the Family Self-Sufficiency Program or participation conditions.

FYI vouchers are also available through a non-competitive process where vouchers for youth can be requested by PHAs on a rolling basis throughout the year, by submitting a form to HUD. To learn more, visit HUD’s website. To contact your local PHA or county child welfare agency about this opportunity, view JBAY’s FYI roster.

CalGrant Reform Coalition Launches Website with Sign-On Opportunity

The CalGrant Reform Coalition has launched a new website to provide updates and action opportunities to support the effort to modernize the state’s largest financial aid program to meet the needs of today’s students. The website includes a call to action where students, professionals and advocates can send an automatic email to their local legislator expressing support for implementing reforms that were adopted by the legislature in 2022 but require funding to realize.

Full implementation of these reforms would streamline and simplify the program as well as remove outdated restrictions related to time out of high school and GPA and would open the doors to higher education to more than 130,000 low-income Californians. To visit the website and learn more follow this link. 

FAAN Network Webinar to Feature Michigan Programs for Foster Youth College Students

The Fostering Academic Achievement Nationwide (FAAN) Network is hosting a webinar series featuring statewide backbone organizations that support college access for foster youth and highlighting best practices from campus support programs in their network. FAAN brings together the leaders of statewide and regional foster care and higher education backbone organizations to share the best practices in policy and programming to support students with experience in foster care as they reach their higher education goals.

The first webinar will take place on May 23 at noon PT and will feature Fostering Success Michigan and the Western Michigan University Seita Scholars Program. Karie Ward, the Director of Fostering Success Michigan, will share about how they created the three S's of building pathways for education success: Students, Support, and Statewide Network and Program Director Ronicka Hamilton will describe the three C's of the Seita Scholars Program: Coaching, Community, and Cash. To register, use this link.

Upcoming Webinars, Training, and Events

• Coalition to Protect Foster Youth in the State Budget
• Celebrate JBAY's 20th Anniversary
• Turning Dreams into Degrees: 2024 Updates
• A Toolkit for Implementing AB 789
• 2024 Blueprint For Success Conference

LEARN MORE

ABOUT JBAY