LOUISVILLE, KY – Everyone needs a safe, stable place to call home. However, a short supply of housing has made this increasingly difficult for Kentucky’s young people. The Fostering Connections: The Housing Landscape for Foster Care Alumni and Recommendations report, released today by Kentucky Youth Advocates, sheds light on the critical housing needs of young adults ages 18-28 in Louisville, Kentucky, particularly young adults who have spent time in foster care as children. 

Foster care alumni are at higher risk of experiencing homelessness as a young adult and many do not receive the ongoing support so many young people rely on from supportive adults as they transition to adulthood.  

“As a parent, the significance of a home is what helps me sleep at night. Knowing my child has a safe place to rest her head means that I can seize the day and be confident in our future,” said Tatum Heath, Peer Coach with True Up at Kentucky Youth Advocates. 

Kentucky Youth Advocates and True Up partnered with YouthBuild Louisville, with support from the Jewish Heritage Fund, to assess the current landscape of housing for young adults in order to provide an overview of what is currently in place, the largest housing challenges facing young people, and the gaps within current support systems. 

“Working alongside KYA on this project has helped to give voice to the needs of young adults leaving the foster care system. Service providers have witnessed daily the gaps in preparation and service availability allowing young people to more successfully launch into adulthood. It is our role as Kentucky’s promise keepers to provide the housing needed, support to enter that housing, and mentorship to stay focused on their future just as we do for our own children,” said Lynn Rippy, President/CEO of YouthBuild Louisville.  

The report outlines several challenges identified when reviewing the current housing crisis and its effect on young people, families, and local economies. By identifying these issues, advocates can lay the groundwork for understanding the depth of the problem and the necessity for comprehensive, informed solutions to support this vulnerable population effectively. 

Despite the existing framework of housing support, critical gaps hinder the system’s effectiveness in fully addressing the needs of young adults, particularly those aging out of foster care, including: 

  • Insufficient Housing Choice Voucher, formerly known as Section 8, availability, leading to extended wait times for recipients 
  • Limited acceptance of Housing Choice Vouchers by housing units and landlords 
  • Shortage of housing navigators, who can be a critical resource for navigating the complexity of securing housing 

“Stability through the exciting yet overwhelming transition to adulthood and adult responsibilities is something many of us can take for granted. A safe, reliable, and affordable place to call home is a pillar to a young adult’s ability to achieve independence and in their employability. Strengthening Kentucky’s approach to addressing the housing crisis – in a way that is supportive and inclusive – is a win-win-win for young people, communities, and the state’s economic growth,” said Nikki Thornton, Senior Director of Innovation at Kentucky Youth Advocates.  

The following recommendations are among several offered in the report to create a more accessible, efficient, and supportive housing system that meets the unique needs of the vulnerable population of foster alumni:  

  • Increase the number of affordable housing units 
  • Create a young-adult-specific shelter and increase transitional housing 
  • Improve access to Housing Choice Vouchers 
  • Increase landlord participation in voucher programs 
  • Expedite and simplify processes with vouchers to speed up moving into a rental unit 
  • Create more peer-to-peer and mentor supports  

To access Fostering Connections: The Housing Landscape for Foster Care Alumni and Recommendations and to view the full list of findings and recommendations, visit kyyouth.org. View an executive summary of the report here. 

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About Kentucky Youth Advocates
Kentucky Youth Advocates believes all children deserve to be safe, healthy, and secure. As THE independent voice for Kentucky’s children, we work to ensure policymakers create investments and policies that are good for children. Learn more at www.kyyouth.org.