Op-Ed: Celebrating the sixth anniversary of championing foster youth at HUD

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As someone who grew up in foster care, I know firsthand the uncertainty and anxiety that comes with not knowing where you’ll sleep at night, or how you’ll make ends meet as you try to build a future for yourself. Too many young people in foster care face these challenges and are forced to fend for themselves at a young age, without the stability that many of us take for granted.

That’s why, as Northwest Regional Administrator and National Lead for the Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) initiative at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), I am proud to celebrate the sixth anniversary of this program, which was established by former HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson in 2019 with continued support under  the leadership of HUD Secretary Scott Turner. More than $95 million dollars have been invested since the program launched, serving more than 5,000 foster youth.

FYI embodies core American values: opportunity, responsibility, and hope.

The program provides local public housing authorities funding to help young Americans transitioning from foster care avoid homelessness and begin building their own lives as responsible adults. This is not about government dependency or handouts; this is about giving vulnerable foster care youth a hand-up in their path toward the American Dream. In addition to housing assistance, the program underscores the value of wrap-around services, including employment assistance and life skills training. This powerful combination helps to ensure young people don’t have to worry about a safe and stable place to call home and instead can focus on educational or career goals, which will allow them to contribute to their communities and achieve self-sufficiency.

I think of stories like Cailyn’s, a young woman from Bremerton, Wash. After transitioning from foster care, Cailyn received support that provided her the stability she needed to enroll in college. Not only did she then succeed in her studies, but she also received guardianship of her two younger siblings so she could continue caring for them. After exiting the program, Cailyn graduated, found a job, and moved into her own apartment, giving her family a brighter future. This story is a testament to the transformative power of a targeted investment and the unlimited potential of our nation’s foster youth. 

Leadership and investment from the top

Since President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, HUD has awarded over $5 million to the FYI program, including over $350,000 for 25 new vouchers in Washington state. This brings the total number of vouchers for foster youth in Washington to nearly 2,000 and emphasizes Secretary Turner’s dedication to not just housing, but also to education, employment, and economic independence.

The FYI initiative’s sixth anniversary reminds me how important it is to invest in foster youth—because when we invest in their independence, we invest in the future of our nation.

I’m thankful for Secretary Turner’s continued commitment to foster youth and how this support provides hope and opportunities for the next generation to achieve the American Dream. 

Chris Patterson is the Northwest Regional Administrator and National Foster Youth to Independence Initiative Lead, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.