South Metro Housing Options is thrilled to be expanding their service to youth gaining independence from the system in 2021. A HUD initiative called Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) will be rolled out to the South Metro area through the coordinated efforts from a team of community partners. The program aims to house 24 foster youths transitioning to independence through HUD’s Tenant Protection Voucher (TPV) program.

The community partnership, made up of South Metro Housing Options, Arapahoe County Human Services, Shiloh House, AllHealth Network, CASA, Manna Connect, and Love, Inc., will work together to identify candidates, administer and apply the housing vouchers, and set up a support system to ensure that youth who are aging out of the child welfare system become self-sufficient and thriving adults.

“It’s critical that youth transitioning out of foster care get the support they need,” said Corey Reitz, Executive Director of South Metro Housing Options, “and we are very excited to be a part of the community team that will be helping these young adults have the best chance at a successful transition and ultimately adulthood.”

The passage to adulthood is challenging for anyone, but for youth in foster care it can be especially lonesome, confusing, and uncertain. The U.S. Children’s Bureau reports that there are more than 400,000 children and youth in our nation’s foster care system, and each year over 20,000 age out. Young adults aging out of foster care, or with histories of involvement with foster care, are at a high risk of homelessness. Of those, approximately 25% experience homelessness within four years of aging out, and an even higher percentage will experience some form of precarious housing.

“Despite facing significant challenges, these youth demonstrate extraordinary courage, determination, and resilience,” said the U.S. Department of Education. It is important to provide them resources and assistance needed to achieve stability and independence.

Our Executive Director, Corey Reitz, talked with The Colorado Sun who covered this story from the state’s perspective, and included the rollout of our program. Read the story by clicking HERE.