US: Foster Youth Deserve Better Than Unsafe, Scary Housing (Commentary)
Imprint – November 07, 2024
When I was 19, New York City’s foster care system found me a spot in what it calls supportive housing. I was so excited to finally have my own space after being shuffled around in the system since I was 15. But my hopes for a happy, new, independent life would soon be dashed. I am not alone. Within six years of aging out of the system, studies have shown one-quarter of foster youth will experience homelessness. A report published by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development earlier this year found that the City’s rental vacancy rate was 1.4%, leaving foster youth with excruciatingly limited housing options.
Also: 2023 New York City Housing and Vacancy Survey, Selected Initial Findings: https://www.nyc.gov/assets/hpd/downloads/pdfs/about/2023-nychvs-selected-initial-findings.pdf