Federal Funding for Housing for

Transition Aged Youth

Three Days On the Hill

Ohio ranks 50th (last in the nation) regarding state funding for child welfare

TANF

Title XIX

Title IV-E

Title IV-B

Title XX

State GRF

County General Funds

• Some programs have a local matching requirement•Each program has specific purposes for which it can be used

Declining Flexibility

Most flexible funding

Most restrictive federal

requirements

Child Welfare Funding in Ohio

• Most flexible of all child welfare funds

• Varies significantly from county to county

• Is based on county tax levies and county commissioner appropriations

• These funds should be used last after drawing down all applicable federal funds.

• Counties may use these funds to pay for non-eligible children and non-allowable services and to match federally funded programs

TANF

Title XIX

Title IV-E

Title IV-B

Title XX

State GRF

County General Funds

4

County General Funds

Federal Financing for Housing

Resource Details Challenges

Chafee funding Up to 30% of a state’s Chafee allocation can be used on housing.

Ohio’s county-administered system

FUP Up to 100 Section 8 vouchers for transitional housing for foster youth between 18-21 years old.

Requires partnership between local child welfare and local public housing authorities

IV-E Can be used for housing placement for foster youth who are under 18, or 18 and expected to graduate high school prior to their 19th birthday funded by this allocation. Placement must be supervised 24/7 and IV-E approved.

Further use of funds would require the state to extend foster care until age 21, in order to receive federal reimbursement.

TANF-IL Security deposits, utility deposits, rent and utility payments for 4 months. (How much does each county receive?)

Can’t be used for room and board for youth still in custody

HUD Section 8 vouchers Long wait list

IDA’s Specialized matched-savings accounts to help people establish a pattern of regular savings in order to purchase an asset, such as a home

Counties don’t seem to be aware of how they can use TANF for this

Possible funding streams for transitional housing for emancipating foster youth

in Ohio

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

Age

TANF Independent Living funds

Up to 30% of a county’s Chafee allocation

FUP if county applied for and was approved for it

Title IV-E if Ohio extends foster care supports to 21

Regular Section 8

Finding a reliable roommate

• IV-E is the principle federal reimbursement for foster care and adoption assistance

• Title IV-E Maintenance Pays for:

– Room/Board

– Daily Supervision

– Basic living and support

– Child’s personal incidentals

– Clothing

– Graduation Expenses

– Liability Insurance

– Travel to Home Visits

– Travel to School

TANF

Title XIX

Title IV-E

Title IV-B

Title XX

State GRF

County General Funds

Title IV-E funds

• Fostering Connections added “a supervised setting in which the individual is living independently” as a reimbursable setting for youth 18-21. 42 U.S.C.A. 672 (c).

• This means that states who have implemented the option of extending foster care beyond age 18 and up to age 21 can receive IV-E Reimbursement for supervised independent living placements and other Age-Appropriate Placements for Youth 18-21.

• Each state has “the discretion to develop a range of supervised independent living settings which can be reasonably interpreted as consistent with the law, including whether or not such settings need to be licensed and any safety protocols that may be needed.”

IV-E*National guidelines

• “We encourage the title IV-E agency to be innovative in determining the best living arrangements that could meet an older child's needs for supervision and support as he/she moves toward independence.”

• “Further, we note that a title IV-E agency should continue to work with youth who are in supervised independent living settings to form permanent connections with caring adults.”

• Guidance on Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008, Program Instruction, ACYF-CB-PI-10-11, July 9, 2010.

IV-E*National guidelines

• In terms of defining supervised independent living placements, Ohio requires licensed and 24/7 supervision for youth in custody who are under 18, or who are 18 and reasonably expected to graduate high school by the end of the month prior to their 19th birthday.

• Ohio as a state has not extended foster care until age 21. If we did so, that would expand use of these funds for transitional housing options, such as:

(a.) host homes, (b.) college dormitories, (c.) shared housing, (d.) semi-supervised apartments, and (e.) supervised apartments

IV-E*State guidelines

IV-E*State guidelines

• Chaffee Independent Living - Pays for Independent Living Services for youth ages 15-21 where the agency has custody or continues to serve emancipated youth to assist them with their independence. (80% Federal. 20% match)

• How to spend it

– Direct Purchase of Services

– RMS Code 774

– Are stipend paid to the youth allowed as incentives?

– Can funds be put into a trust or savings account for a youth?

– Are gift cards given to the youth allowed?

– Can the money be used for room and board? What is considered room and board?

– Who pays IL services for children crossing state lines?

12

Chaffee Independent Living

TANF Independent Living Funds in Ohio

► Can be used for the same services as Chaffee IL

► If the same services are being purchased, Chaffee IL must be spent before TANF IL is used

► TANF IL expands services above Chaffee IL

TANF ILfor youth still in agency

custody► Can be used to purchase services, make vendor payments and make incentive payments consistent with the youth’s life skills assessment and written IL plan.

► Can be used to offer incentives to eligible youth to promote successful behavioral outcomes

► Room and board payments are NOT allowed.

► Payments for services that may fall under the definition of “assistance” are NOT allowed.

► Administrative costs are NOT allowed.

TANF ILfor emancipated youth

► Can be used to purchase services, make vendor payments and make incentive payments for young adults who have emancipated from foster care.

► Security deposits, utility deposits, rent and utility payments for 4 months

► Up to $1,000 for furniture

► Driver’s education classes and license fees

► One time payment to a vendor to purchase or help purchase a car to support the young adults employment

► One time payment for up to $2,000 to cover the cost of repair to support the young adults employment

► Employment mentoring, work clothes, tools, supplies permit fees for employment

► Nominal case incentive awards for achievement of specific behavior outcomes

The National Center for Housing and Child Welfare (NCHCW)

• NCHCW links housing resources to child welfare agencies to improve family functioning, prevent family homelessness, safely reduce the need for out-of-home placement, and ensure that each young person who ages out foster care is able to access safe, decent, permanent housing.

16

Contact information• Ruth White, MSSA

Executive Director

National Center for Housing and Child Welfare

6711 Queens Chapel Rd

University Park, MD 20782

(301) 699-0151

rwhite@nchcw.org

www.nchcw.org