Ohio foster care youth and alumni advocacy:
1.) Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act
2.) HUD-FASH Proposal (Foster Alumni Supportive Housing)
3.) ODJFS Letter in Support of HUD-FASH
4.) Ohio Congressional Delegation Letter in support of HUD-FASH
5.) HUD response to Congresswoman Beatty about HUD-FASH
6.) Follow-up Letter to Congresswoman Beatty
7.) Letter of Support for Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act of 2019 (S.789)
8.) Letter of Support for Fostering Success in Higher Education Act (S. 1650)

Big picture:
1.) Opening Doors
2.) Pilot Projects vs. Full Scale Implementation
3.) Closing the Gap ~ insights from Ruth Ann White
4.) Homeless Children and Youth Act
5.) Voices of Youth Count

Fact sheets:
1.) Homelessness after foster care
2.) Housing – Ohio models
3.) Housing – National models
4.) Housing – Funding resources
5.) Housing – Options to explore

Research

• Spend more on transitional housing, and outcomes for foster youth will be improved

Midwest Longitudinal Study
Chapin Hall has conducted a Midwest Study that followed more than 700 young people from Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois as they aged out of foster care and transitioned to adulthood. This longitudinal studies checked in with participants at ages 17 or 18, 19, 21, 24, and 26 about their current status in terms of education, employment, housing, justice system involvement and physical and mental health.

The Midwest Study has generated valuable information regarding:

• Homelessness During the Transition From Foster Care to Adulthood
• Predictors of Homelessness in the Transition From Foster Care to Adulthood
• Youth Homelessness and Vulnerability: How Does Couch Surfing Fit?

Chapin Hall’s Midwest study affirmed that the foster care population has characteristics which demonstrate a very high probability of homelessness. The costs of preventing post‐foster care homelessness through life skills preparation and post exit support, is far less than the cost of subsequent homelessness.

Challenge of Solvable Proportions
That homelessness is a common experience awaiting these youth is particularly troubling because it is avoidable. It is a challenge of solvable proportions. Both child welfare and homeless services systems can do more to prevent foster youth from becoming homeless.

• Ending Homelessness After Foster Care

Latest Data from HUD
The diagrams and quote below are from HUD’s 2018 Annual HomelessAssessment Report to Congress.