County Housing Authority Receives $1.1 Million for Foster Youth Program
Homes and Services Part of Federal Foster Youth to Independence Program in Santa Barbara
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocated just over $1 million to the Housing Authority of Santa Barbara County as part of the Foster Youth to Independence program.
The initiative seeks to provide housing assistance to youth moving on from foster care and who are at risk of homelessness. According to the county, more than 500 young people currently in foster care will become independent at age 18 and can face an increased risk of homelessness due to multiple factors.
“They often lack the funds for deposits, they don’t usually have a cosigner, and in some extreme cases they don’t have the proper documentation needed to rent an apartment,” said Stephany Rubio, who directs the Guardian Scholars Program at UC Santa Barbara, which supports students from the foster system. “The rising housing costs also create another obstacle.”
