Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) vouchers help pay rent for young adults ages 18–24 who left foster care, or will soon, and are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The voucher comes from a local housing agency, and you need a referral from your state or county child welfare agency. It's free.
How to ask for one
Tell your caseworker or independent living worker you want an FYI voucher.
If you've already left care, contact your state's program listed below.
Not every housing agency has FYI vouchers. Ask about FUP vouchers or other housing help too.
Nationwide
Melania Trump Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Housing Vouchers
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Nationwide
The Melania Trump Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) program makes Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance available through local Public Housing Agencies working with child welfare agencies, for young people who have left or are leaving foster care and are homeless or at risk of homelessness. FYI referrals come from your child welfare agency, so ask your caseworker or independent living worker to make an FYI referral, then use the locator to find and contact the housing agency for your area.
Who qualifies: As stated by HUD: youth at least 18 years and not more than 24 years of age (have not reached their 25th birthday) who left foster care, or will leave foster care within 180 days in accordance with a transition plan described in Section 475(5)(H) of the Social Security Act, and are homeless or are at risk of becoming homelessness at age 16 or older.
Family Unification Program (FUP) Rent Vouchers for Youth Leaving Foster Care
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Nationwide
FUP rent vouchers help pay rent for up to 36 months (sometimes longer) for young people 18 up to their 25th birthday who left or are leaving foster care within 90 days and are homeless or at risk. You cannot apply to HUD directly — ask your caseworker or child welfare agency to refer you to the housing authority that runs FUP in your area.
Who qualifies: Ages 18 up to the 25th birthday, leaving foster care within 90 days, homeless or at risk of homelessness since age 16.
HUD Resource Locator — Find Affordable Apartments and Your Housing Authority
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Nationwide
Type in your address or ZIP and this official HUD map shows subsidized and affordable apartments near you, your local public housing agency (the office that handles Section 8, FYI and FUP vouchers), and the local homeless services contact.
The Housing Authority of Birmingham District partnered with Alabama DHR to offer rental vouchers to young adults aging out of foster care who are at risk of homelessness.
Who qualifies: Young adults aging out of Alabama foster care who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness, referred by Alabama DHR
Housing Help After Foster Care (Foster Youth to Independence)
Alabama Department of Human Resources
Statewide AL
Help paying rent: the Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) program provides housing vouchers for young people who left (or are about to leave) Alabama foster care and are at risk of homelessness. DHR refers you to the local housing authority.
Who qualifies: Per the Alabama DHR FYI application: for youth ages 18-24 who left foster care at age 16 or older (or will leave within 90 days) and are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Making a Home Program - Housing Vouchers for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care
Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC)
Anchorage Municipality · Fairbanks North Star Borough · Juneau City and Borough · Kenai Peninsula Borough · Ketchikan Gateway Borough · Kodiak Island Borough · Matanuska-Susitna Borough · Petersburg Borough · Sitka City and Borough · Wrangell City and Borough
Rental assistance program (part of the Foster Youth to Independence initiative) providing up to 36 months of housing voucher assistance and security deposit help for youth aging out of foster care who are enrolled in OCS's Independent Living Program.
Who qualifies: Youth ages 18-24 aging out of foster care and participating in the Independent Living Program, low income, within AHFC service areas near field offices
Orangewood Housing and Independent Living Program (Orange County)
Orangewood Foundation
Orange County
Housing support for Orange County foster youth using a Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) voucher, with case management, job and education coaching.
Who qualifies: Current or former foster youth ages 18-24 in Orange County with a Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) voucher. Check eligibility with the Orange County Social Services Agency for a referral.
Housing for Youth Aging Out of Agency Custody (FYI/FUP Vouchers)
DC Child and Family Services Agency
Washington, DC
CFSA works with the DC Housing Authority to help youth who are leaving foster care within 90 days, or left within the past 5 years, get a Family Unification Program or Foster Youth to Independence housing voucher.
Who qualifies: DC youth leaving foster care within 90 days, or who left within the past 5 years, who are at risk of homelessness and need independent housing; CFSA develops a written housing plan with the youth before they leave care.
Campus Housing Priority and Housing Vouchers After Foster Care (New Law SB 584)
Florida Department of Children and Families
Statewide FL
Florida's SB 584 (effective July 1, 2025) gives former foster youth first priority for campus housing and work-study at Florida College System schools and state universities, and schools cannot require you to have a cosigner or guarantor. It also requires the state to actively enroll eligible young adults in federal Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) housing vouchers. Call the Hope Florida line through DCF's Office of Continuing Care for help ages 18 to 26.
Who qualifies: Young adults formerly in Florida foster care, generally ages 18 to 24 for FYI vouchers and 18 to 26 for Office of Continuing Care help, including students enrolling in a Florida College System institution or state university.
Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Housing Vouchers - Jacksonville
Jacksonville Housing
Duval County
Jacksonville Housing accepts referrals for Foster Youth to Independence housing vouchers from Family Support Services of North Florida and Changing Homelessness. Preliminary applications go to those agencies at fyivouchers@fssnf.org - the housing authority does not take applications or decide eligibility. NOTE: the public notice does not carry an end date and enrollment stays open only until all voucher slots are filled, so email or call Family Support Services at (904) 421-5800 to confirm slots are still available.
Who qualifies: Young people at least 18 and not more than 24 years old who have left foster care or will leave within 90 days under a transition plan, and who are homeless or at risk of homelessness at age 16 or older. Only youth certified by Family Support Services of North Florida or Changing Homelessness can be assisted.
Foster Youth to Independence Housing Vouchers (Jacksonville)
Jacksonville Housing Authority
Duval County, FL
HUD housing vouchers set aside for young people who left foster care at 16 or older and are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Duval County.
Who qualifies: HUD Foster Youth to Independence vouchers are for youth ages 18 to 24 who left foster care, or will leave foster care within 90 days, at age 16 or older, and who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Referrals must come from the public child welfare agency — start with your case manager or the local child welfare lead agency, who contacts the housing authority.
Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Housing Vouchers
Georgia Department of Community Affairs
Statewide GA
Georgia DCA works with the state foster care agency to give rental vouchers to young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness after leaving foster care.
Who qualifies: Youth ages 18-24 who were in foster care and are experiencing or at risk of homelessness; referral via DHS Division of Family and Children Services email
Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Housing Vouchers
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)
Statewide Illinois
Federal housing vouchers for current and former youth in care, coordinated in Illinois by the DCFS Office of Housing and Cash Assistance with participating public housing authorities.
Who qualifies: Per the DCFS FYI fact sheet: "Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) - Housing voucher program for current and former youth in care." Contact is the "Illinois DCFS Office of Housing and Cash Assistance" at DCFS.FYI.Liaison@illinois.gov.
Foster Youth to Independence Vouchers in Cook County
Housing Authority of Cook County
Cook County, Illinois
Housing vouchers awarded to the Housing Authority of Cook County to help young adults leaving foster care get stable housing. Referrals come through DCFS.
Who qualifies: HUD's FYI award table lists "Housing Authority Cook County Chicago IL $889,884 75." FYI serves "young adult in between the ages of 18 years and not more than 24 years old who left foster care or will leave foster care in the next 90 days."
Housing vouchers awarded to the Oak Park housing authority to help young adults leaving foster care get stable housing. Referrals come through DCFS.
Who qualifies: HUD's FYI award table lists "Housing Authority of the Village of Oak Park Oak Park IL $163,310 15." FYI serves "young adult in between the ages of 18 years and not more than 24 years old who left foster care or will leave foster care in the next 90 days."
Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Housing Vouchers
Johnson County Housing Authority
Johnson County
Johnson County Housing Authority offers rental vouchers for young adults who are aging out of foster care, plus a case manager to help with education, jobs, and money skills. Youth are referred by a partner organization and must wait for HUD approval.
Who qualifies: Young adults exiting or who have exited foster care; referred to the Housing Authority through a trusted community partner organization.
KY RISE Aftercare Housing Programs for Former Foster Youth
Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) — Transitional Services Branch
Statewide KY
KY RISE is Kentucky's transition-age youth portal listing housing supports, including Project Life rental assistance and the Family Unification Program, for young people who aged out of foster care.
Who qualifies: Per KY RISE: "Project Life Housing Program provides former foster youth between the ages of 18 ½ and 23 years old with 12 months of rental assistance and case management."
Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Housing Voucher Program
Maine Department of Health and Human Services / Local Housing Authorities
Statewide ME
Statewide HUD/DHHS partnership housing voucher program (up to 3 years) for young adults 18-24 who have left or are about to leave foster care and are homeless or at risk of homelessness, administered through participating housing authorities across Maine (Portland, Biddeford, Lewiston, Bangor, Brewer, Old Town, Presque Isle, Caribou, and others).
Who qualifies: Youth 18-24 who left foster care or will leave within 90 days, were in care at age 16+, and are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
Housing Help for Youth Leaving Foster Care (FYI Vouchers)
Missouri Department of Social Services, Children's Division
Statewide MO
Missouri connects young people leaving foster care with housing support, including Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) housing vouchers and other help finding and keeping safe, stable housing.
Who qualifies: Youth ages 18 to 24 who left or are leaving Missouri foster care and are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Housing Choice Vouchers
Missoula Housing Authority
Missoula, MT
The Missoula Housing Authority offers rental assistance vouchers to young people ages 18-24 who have left or are about to leave foster care and are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Who qualifies: Youth 18 up to 25 years old who left foster care or will leave within 90 days and are homeless or at risk of homelessness at age 16+. Must be referred by Montana Child and Family Services.
Foster Youth to Independence Housing Vouchers (Suffolk County)
Town of Brookhaven Public Housing Authority
Suffolk County (Town of Brookhaven)
Housing vouchers for young people who left or are leaving foster care, administered by the Town of Brookhaven housing authority with Suffolk County DSS.
Who qualifies: Youth at least 18 years and not more than 24 years of age (have not reached their 25th birthday), who left foster care, or will leave foster care within 90 days, in accordance with a transition plan described in Section 475(5)(H) of the Social Security Act, and are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless at age 16 or older.
Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Housing Vouchers — Oklahoma
Oklahoma Successful Adulthood (OKSA) — Oklahoma Human Services
Oklahoma statewide
FYI vouchers help pay rent for young adults leaving or who have left foster care. In Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency gives out FYI vouchers to people referred by Oklahoma Human Services or its partner. OKSA runs a housing check-in and referral process and can connect you to this and other housing options. Free. Call the OKSA Helpline at 800-397-2945 or email oksa@ou.edu.
Who qualifies: Ages 18–24 who left foster care (or will within months) and are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. OKSA housing help is for youth who turned 18 in OKDHS or Tribal custody in an out-of-home placement.
Foster Youth to Independence Housing Vouchers (Philadelphia)
Philadelphia Housing Authority
Philadelphia County, PA
Fifty HUD Foster Youth to Independence vouchers administered by the Philadelphia Housing Authority with the Department of Human Services and Office of Homeless Services.
Who qualifies: Ages 18-24, lived experience in the child welfare system at 16 or older, left or leaving foster care within 90 days, and homeless or at risk of homelessness.
HUD-funded Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher and supportive services program preventing homelessness among young adults aging out of foster care in the Rock Hill/York County area.
Who qualifies: At-risk young adults aged 18 to 25 who have exited the foster care system and lack stable housing.
Sioux Falls Housing offers rental vouchers for young people ages 18 to 24 who have left or are about to leave foster care and are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. A public child welfare agency must refer the youth.
Who qualifies: Youth 18-24 who have left foster care or will leave within 90 days, homeless or at risk of homelessness, referred by a Public Child Welfare Agency.
Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Voucher Program
Tennessee Housing Development Agency
Statewide TN
THDA works with Tennessee DCS to give former foster youth a housing voucher that pays most of their rent. A case manager also helps with finding an apartment and other support.
Who qualifies: Ages 18 up to 25, leaving or having left foster care, homeless or at risk of homelessness. Must be referred by DCS or a partner child welfare agency; cannot apply directly to THDA.
Lumen Flats — Apartments for Young Adults Aging Out of Foster Care (Knoxville)
Lumen Flats (Elmington Elevates)
Knox County, TN (Knoxville)
An 18-unit Knoxville apartment community built specifically for young adults aging out of foster care. Every unit carries a project-based Foster Youth to Independence voucher providing rent support for up to three years, alongside mentorship, case management and mental health support.
Who qualifies: Eligible young adults ages 18–24 aging out of foster care; rent support for up to three years.
DFPS Youth Housing Program: Public Housing Authority Partners (FYI)
Texas DFPS
Statewide TX
DFPS explains the federal Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) voucher initiative and lists Texas public housing authorities that partner with DFPS to provide Housing Choice Vouchers to youth aging out of care.
Who qualifies: 'Youth at least 18 years and not more than 24 years of age' who are exiting or have exited foster care, per FYI/FUP rules.
Foster Youth to Independence Housing Vouchers — Bexar County
Housing Authority of Bexar County
Serves Bexar County, TX
The Housing Authority of Bexar County runs a Foster Youth to Independence program offering housing vouchers to young adults aging out of foster care.
Who qualifies: HABC states: "The Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Initiative offers housing vouchers to young adults (ages 18-24) who are aging out of foster care."
Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Housing Vouchers
Housing Connect (Housing Authority of the County of Salt Lake)
Salt Lake County
Housing Connect was awarded 52 Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) HUD vouchers providing rental assistance for up to 36 months (extendable to 24 more) for youth ages 18-24 who left foster care or are transitioning out of foster care and are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Who qualifies: Youth ages 18-24 who left foster care or are transitioning out of foster care and are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, in Housing Connect's service area.
Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Housing Voucher Program
HUD / Virginia Public Housing Authorities
Statewide VA
FYI is a HUD-funded housing choice voucher program that Virginia Public Housing Authorities can establish in partnership with local departments of social services to provide housing assistance and supportive services to youth transitioning out of foster care.
Who qualifies: Youth ages 18-24 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness within 90 days of leaving foster care (or left within past 24 months).
Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Housing Assistance
West Virginia Department of Human Services, Bureau for Social Services
Statewide WV
DoHS-administered pathway connecting youth ages 18-24 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, exiting foster care, to HUD Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) housing vouchers.
Who qualifies: Youth ages 18 to 24 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and exiting/aged out of foster care.
We haven't verified a state-specific FYI contact for these yet. Use the nationwide HUD link above to find your local housing agency, or ask your caseworker:
Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming