Housing

Many youth in foster care struggle to find permanent homes

Foster care is designed to provide temporary housing and care for children and adolescents until they can be either reunited with their family, taken in by relatives, adopted, or emancipated as an adult. Too often, however, youth that pass through the foster care system fail to find permanent homes, transitioning from one living situation to another, and a large percentage experience homelessness at some point in their lives.

Did you know…

An average of 1 out of every 4 youth in foster care will become homeless within 4 years of aging out of foster care?

Youth still in foster care at the time of their 18th birthday (21st birthday in some states) are “emancipated”, or released shortly after reaching the age of majority. With little or no money to support themselves and often with no family members to turn to, many former foster youth find themselves without a permanent place to live.

Youth Housing and Homelessness: Facts & Figures

  • Approximately 25% of former foster youth experience homelessness within 4 years of being emancipated from the foster care system.

  • Only about 25% of youth in foster care for 2 or more years find permanent homes.

  • The average length of stay in foster care is 20 months

  • 46% of foster children live in a foster family home with a non-relative

  • 29% live in a relative’s home

  • 8% live in an institution

  • 6% live in a group home

  • 11% live elsewhere2

Urban Unity and housing for former foster youth

Through our partnerships with community-based organizations. Urban Unity works to connect foster youth and former foster youth with resources and assistance as they prepare for life after foster care.

Cherron Jones