# Presentation: 706201

## Youth Housing Assistance Program

- Practicing Life Outside of the
- Illinois Department of Children and Family Services

## Youth in Care (18–20)

- Foster care/home of relative care
- Independent living organizations
- Transitional living programs
- College
- Institutions

## Youth in Care Reality

- Up to 100% of rent paid for the youth
- Up to 100% of all other bills paid for the youth
- DCFS worker, guardian, and judge advocating on their behalf
- Possible allowance

## Emancipated Youth Reality

- No allowance; need to earn money
- $500 rent
- Monthly utility fees
- Pay for food and clothing

## Youth Housing Assistance Program

- Providing a bridge between
- the two realities
- Housing Advocacy
- Cash Assistance
- Housing Subsidy

## Housing Advocacy Program

- Develop relationships with landlords
- Provide apartment listings
- Provide tenant counseling
- Advocate with housing providers
- Assist in obtaining an income
- Provide linkages to community services
- Provide followup services

## Housing Advocacy Program Eligibility Criteria

- 17.5–21 years old
- Will age out of the system within 6 months or has aged out of the system
- Will need new housing when they age out of the system, or current housing is inadequate

## Housing Advocacy Providers

- Private Agencies throughout the State
- Homeless Services Providers, Housing Providers and/or Child Welfare Service Providers
- Involved in local Continuum of Care
- Paid hourly rate ($19–27 per hour)

## Cash Assistance Program

- Housing costs, such as security deposit
- Utilities
- Necessary furniture
- Transportation
- Other items needed to stabilize housing
- Housing subsidy

## Housing Subsidy

-    Provides a monthly check to the landlord for 1 year
- No more than $250 per month
- Youth must pay at least 30% of their income on housing during the first 6 months and 50% during the second 6 months

## Cash Assistance Program Eligibility Criteria

- 18–20 years old
- Assistance is necessary to age out of care, or already has aged out of care
- Will need new housing when they age out of care, or current housing is inadequate

## Cash Assistance Providers

- Private agencies
- Ability to process checks within 1 business day, quicker if necessary
- Receive advances to write checks for clients
- Paid an administrative (approximately 5%) for processing checks

## Youth Housing Assistance Program Funding Source

- 100% from the
- Chafee Foster Care Independence Program

## Housing Advocacy Services in FY 2006

- Expect to receive 300 new referrals (approximately two-thirds in Cook County)
- Continue to serve 200 referrals from previous fiscal year
- Expect to spend $330,000 (approximately two-thirds in Cook County)

## Cash Assistance Program in FY 2006

- Expect to serve 350 youths (approximately two-thirds in Cook County)
- Expect to spend $400,000 (approximately two-thirds in Cook County)

## We Currently Are Tracking:

- Percentage of clients housed
- Length of time to locate housing
- Percentage of income spent on housing
- Percentage of clients forced to move
- Percentage of clients experiencing a housing problem

## Youth Housing Advocacy Program

- John Cheney Egan, Office of Housing and Cash Assistance
- 312-814-1878/phone • 312-814-7134/fax
- _[jegan@idcfs.state.il.us](mailto:jegan@idcfs.state.il.us)_
- Ted Ernst, Youth Housing Assistance Program Coordinator
- 312-814-5571/phone • 312-814-7134/fax
- _[ternst@idcfs.state.il.us](mailto:ternst@idcfs.state.il.us)_
- Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
- 160 North LaSalle, 6th Floor
- Chicago, IL  60601