Survey of Public Child Welfare Agencies

OMB Control # ______________

HUD Survey:

Addressing the Housing Needs of Youth Aging Out of Foster Care

(PCWA)

DRAFT

April 16, 2012

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is collaborating with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) to conduct a study on the housing needs of the nearly 30,000 youth who age out of the foster care system each year. The goal of the study is to understand the issues associated with housing for youth aging out of foster care and help develop and improve strategies for addressing them.

As part of this project, HUD has contracted with Mathematica Policy Research to conduct a web-based survey of public child welfare agencies (PCWAs) and their partnering public housing agencies (PHAs) in communities that use Family Unification Program (FUP) vouchers to serve youth aging out of foster care. The purpose of this survey is to learn how the Family Unification Program is being used to address the housing needs of youth aging out of foster care, as well as to identify any unique benefits or challenges your PCWA has experienced serving this population in partnership with your local PHA. One of your partnering PHA (or PHAs) has indicated that they are currently collaborating with you to administer the Family Unification Program, and specifically, to use some number of FUP vouchers to serve youth aging out of foster care. In this survey we will ask questions about the child welfare system in your state, your agency collaboration with your PHA, how your agency identifies and refers FUP-eligible youth, housing options for youth aging out of foster care, your experiences using FUP vouchers, and your perspectives on practice and policy.

If your agency has contracted with a separate organization to operate FUP for youth or to provide supportive services to FUP-eligible youth, please note that some questions may be better addressed by that contractor. You may wish to ask your contractor to complete those sections (you may share your log-in information if you wish) or provide you with the relevant information.

It is possible that your agency may work with multiple PHAs to administer FUP vouchers. If this is the case, we ask you to complete the survey focusing on the PHA to whom you have referred the most foster youth during the past 18 months.

This survey should take about 30 minutes to complete. If you cannot complete the survey in one sitting, you may save your place in the survey and finish it at a later time. Please note, however, that we need to have all responses by _________________.

Thank you in advance for responding to this survey. Your responses will help the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services better understand how communities are serving the housing needs of foster youth aging out of care.

Please contact Debra Wright, (202) 554-7576 or dwright@mathematica-mpr.com, at Mathematica Policy Research with any questions about the survey.

I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION (FOR PCWA RESPONDENT)

1. Public Child Welfare Agency (PCWA) Name [DATA PRE-POPULATED BY MPR]

2. So that we know who in [FILL WITH Q1] is responding to this survey, please provide your contact information:

Name

Position

Phone Number

Email

3. How long have you been employed by [FILL WITH Q1] (in any position or title)?

4. How would you describe your state's child welfare system? Is it state supervised and state-administered, state supervised and county administered, or something else?

Select one only

 State supervised and state-administered 1

 State supervised and county-administered 2

 Something else (SPECIFY) 3

S pecify

5. We understand that a single PCWA may partner with multiple PHAs to administer the Family Unification Program (FUP).

5a. How many PHAs does your PCWA currently partner with to administer the FUP?

N UMBER

5b. How many of these partner PHAs currently use FUP vouchers to serve youth aging out of foster care?

N UMBER

[IF 5b=1]

5c. For the purpose of this particular survey, please focus on the partner PHA that currently uses FUP vouchers to serve youth aging out of foster care.

What is the name of this PHA?

[IF 5b>1]

5d. For the purpose of this particular survey, please focus on the partner PHA you have referred the most youth to during the past 18 months.

What is the name of this PHA?

[IF 5b=0 or BLANK]

5e. [FILL PHA NAME FROM PHA SURVEY] has indicated that they currently use FUP vouchers to serve youth in your community.

Is this correct?

 Yes 1

 No 0 SKIP TO END

 Don’t Know d SKIP TO END

5f. Please focus on [FILL PHA NAME FROM PHA SURVEY] for the purposes of this survey.

END. Thank you for your time. We appreciate your responses. Those are all the questions we have for you today.

II. CHILD WELFARE CONTEXT

The next set of questions asks about the child welfare system in your state.

The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 extends the age of Title IV-E–eligibility from 18 to 21 years old for foster youth who meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential;

• Enrolled in an institution which provides postsecondary or vocational education;

• Participating in a program or activity designed to promote, or remove barriers to, employment;

• Employed for at least 80 hours per month;

• Incapable of doing any of the above due to a medical condition

1a. Does your state have an approved plan to extend Title IV-E (federal) foster care beyond age 18?

 Yes 1

 No 0 SKIP TO Q2

 Don’t Know d SKIP TO Q2

1b. To what age does your state extend Title IV-E (federal) foster care?

Select one only

 19^th birthday

 20^th birthday

 21^st birthday

2. Does your state extend state-funded foster care beyond age 18?

 Yes 1

 No 0 SKIP TO Q5

 Don’t Know d SKIP TO Q5

3. To what age does your state extend state-funded foster care?

Select one only

 19^th birthday

 20^th birthday

 21^st birthday

 22^nd birthday

 23^rd birthday

4. Under what conditions does your state extend state foster care?

Select all that apply

 Youth is completing high school 1

 Youth is pursuing postsecondary education or training 2

 Youth has a physical or mental disability or other special needs 3

 Youth is receiving treatment for a mental health or substance abuse problem. 4

 Youth is pregnant or parenting. 5

 Court has determined that it is in the best interest of the youth 6

 Other (SPECIFY) 7

S

pecify

5a. Are there any circumstances under which your state allows young people who have been emancipated or discharged to independent living to re-enter foster care before their 21st birthday?

 Yes 1

 No 0 SKIP TO Q6

 Don’t Know d

5b. Can youth re-enter foster care if they are not Title IV-E eligible?

 Yes 1

 No 0

 Don’t Know d

For the next few questions, please think specifically about the foster children and youth in [JURISDICTION PRE-POPULATED], the community served by [PHA NAME]’s.

6. Approximately how many children and youth in [JURISDICTION] are currently in foster care? By foster care, we mean “24-hour substitute care for children and youth placed away from their parents or guardians and for whom the State agency has placement and care responsibility.” Please include children and youth whose out-of-home care placements do not qualify for Title IV-E reimbursement. If you don’t know the exact number, your best guess is fine.

NUMBER

 Don’t Know d

7. Approximately what percentage of the children and youth currently in foster care in [JURISDICTION] are at least 16 years old?

Select one only

 Less than 25% 1

 At least 25% but less than 50% 2

 About 50% 3

 More than 50% 4

 Don’t Know d

8 . During your state’s most recent fiscal year, approximately how many youth in [JURISDICTION] “aged out” of foster care? By “aged out,” we mean exited foster care because they became (or were about to become) too old to remain in foster care under state law. Please do not include youth who achieved permanency through reunification, adoption or legal guardianship. If you don’t know the exact number, your best guess is fine.

NUMBER

 Don’t Know d

9. Federal law requires that youth receive assistance with transition during the 90 days (3 months) prior to the date on which they will age out of foster care.

Does this transition planning typically begin more than 90 days prior to the date on which youth will age out?

 Yes 1

 No 0 SKIP TO Q11

 Don’t Know d SKIP TO Q11

10. How many months before a youth ages out of care does this transition planning typically begin?

Select one only

 3 to 6 months 2

 7 to 12 months 3

 13 to 18 months 4

 More than 18 months 5

 Don’t Know d

11. Does your agency, or a contracted provider, provide any of the following types of housing search assistance to youth who are preparing to age out of care in [JURISDICTION]?

	YES	NO
a. Provide information about different neighborhoods	1 	0 
b. Take youth on neighborhood tours	1 	0 
c. Transport youth to visit housing units	1 	0 
d. Provide a listing of vacant rental units	1 	0 
e. Refer youth to property managers/landlords known to accept youth	1 	0 
f. Work with landlords/property managers to help youth secure housing	1 	0 
g. Provide information about tenant rights and responsibilities	1 	0 
h. Provide information about subsidized housing including eligibility requirements	1 	0 
i. Provide information about public transportation services	1 	0 
j. Help youth locate housing near school or work	1 	0 
k. Other (SPECIFY)	1 	0 

12. Does your agency, or a contracted provider, provide any of the following types of leaseup/move‑in assistance?

	YES	NO
a. Provide contact information for local utility service providers	1 	0 
b. Provide information about public transportation and retail options	1 	0 
c. Help contacting utility companies to establish service	1 	0 
d. Advice on how to talk to landlords and neighbors about maintenance needs or noise issues	1 	0 
e. Financial assistance with moving, security deposits, or utility hook-up fees	1 	0 
f. Financial assistance or referrals for assistance to secure furniture and other housewares	1 	0 
g. Other (SPECIFY)	1 	0 

III. PHA/PCWA CROSS TRAINING

The next few questions ask about your agency’s collaboration with [PHA NAME].

13. How familiar are you with each of the following?

	Select one per row
	VERY	SOMEWHAT	NOT AT ALL
a. Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program eligibility	2 	1 	0 
b. Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher briefings	2 	1 	0 
c. Housing search and lease-up processes within the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program	2 	1 	0 
d. Tracking and reporting requirements associated with the FUP	2 	1 	0 
e. FUP eligibility and other FUP requirements	2 	1 	0 

14. Has [PHA NAME] provided your staff with training on the following?

	YES	NO
a. Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program eligibility	1 	0 
b. Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher briefings	1 	0 
c. Housing search and lease-up processes within the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program	1 	0 
d. Tracking and reporting requirements associated with the FUP	1 	0 
e. FUP eligibility and other FUP requirements	1 	0 
f. Other (SPECIFY)	1 	0 

15. [IF ANY OF Q14a THROUGH Q14f=YES, THEN ASK] How often does this training occur?

Select one only

 Less than once per year 1

 Annually 2

 Twice a year 3

 Quarterly 4

 More than once per quarter 5

 Don’t Know d

16. Has your staff provided [PHA NAME] with training on the following?

	YES	NO
a. Characteristics of youth aging out of foster care and their housing needs	1 	0 
b. How your agency identifies FUP-eligible youth	1 	0 
c. How your agency refers FUP-eligible youth to [PHA NAME]	1 	0 
d. The types of housing search assistance provided to FUP-eligible youth by your agency or contracted providers	1 	0 
e. The types of supportive services provided to FUP-eligible youth by your agency or contracted providers
f. Other (SPECIFY)	1 	0 

17. [IF ANY OF Q16a THROUGH Q16f=YES, THEN ASK] How often does a training occur?

Select one only

 Less than once per year 1

 Annually 2

 Twice a year 3

 Quarterly 4

 More than once per quarter 5

 Don’t Know d

IV. FUP VOUCHERS FOR FUP-ELIGIBLE YOUTH

A. FUP IDENTIFICATION, REFERRAL, ELIGIBILITY, AND WAIT LIST

The next few questions ask about the process your agency uses to identify FUP-eligible youth and refer them to [PHA NAME].

18. How does your agency identify FUP-eligible youth?

Select all that apply

 Youth are referred to your agency by [PHA NAME] 1

 Youth are referred to your agency by another public housing agency 2

 Youth are referred to your agency by homeless shelters or other homeless service providers 3

 Youth are referred to your agency by youth housing programs 4

 Youth are referred to your agency by aftercare service providers 5

 Youth are referred to your agency by other state or local agencies 6

 Youth are referred to your agency by other community-based agencies 7

 Youth refer themselves to your agency 8

 Other (SPECIFY) 9

S

pecify

19. Are ALL of the FUP-eligible youth identified by your agency referred to [PHA NAME]?

 Yes 1 SKIP TO Q21

 No 0

 Don’t Know d

20. Does your agency consider any of the following when deciding whether a referral should be made?

	YES	NO
a. Is the youth homeless or precariously housed?	1 	0 
b. Is the youth involved with multiple systems?	1 	0 
c. What is the age of the youth?	1 	0 
d. Does the youth have mental health problems?	1 	0 
e. Does the youth have other disabilities?	1 	0 
f. Does the youth identify as lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgendered	1 	0 
g. Is the youth pregnant or parenting?	1 	0 
h. Has the youth completed high school?	1 	0 
i. Is the youth enrolled in an education or training program?	1 	0 
j. What is the work history of the youth?	1 	0 
k. Is the youth currently employed?	1 	0 
l. Does the youth have a criminal record?	1 	0 

For the next set of questions, please think about the FUP-eligible youth your agency referred to [PHA NAME] during the past year.

21. How many FUP-eligible youth did your agency refer to [PHA NAME] during your state’s past fiscal year? If you do not know the exact number, your best guess is fine.

NUMBER OF REFERRALS

22. Approximately what percentage of the FUP-eligible youth who your agency referred in the past fiscal year ultimately leased up using a FUP voucher? If you do not know the exact percentage, your best guess is fine.

Select one only

 Less than 25% 1

 At least 25% but less than 50% 2

 About 50% 3

 More than 50% but less than 75% 4

 More than 75% 5

 Don’t Know d

This next set of questions is about what happens once a youth’s FUP eligibility has been established.

23. What does your agency do if [PHA NAME] determines that a FUP-eligible youth that your agency referred is not eligible for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program?

Select all that apply

 Notify the youth 1

 Refer the youth to other PHA programs 2

 Refer the youth to other housing options 3

 Inform youth about re-entry if that is an option 4

 Other (SPECIFY) 5

S

pecify

24. Does [PHA NAME] notify your agency once youth have been awarded a FUP voucher?

 Yes 1

 No 0

25. Before issuing a FUP voucher, the PHA must inform youth how the Housing Choice Voucher program works and what its requirements are. This meeting is called a briefing. How often do you or does someone else from your agency attend this briefing with the youth?

Select one only

 Almost always 1

 More than half of the time 2

 About half of the time 3

 Less than half of the time 4

 Almost never 5

B. FUP HOUSING SEARCH AND SELECTION

The next set of questions asks about the housing search process for FUP-eligible youth who have had a voucher briefing.

26. Does your agency provide any housing search assistance to FUP-eligible youth in their search for suitable housing IN ADDITION to any housing search assistance that is provided by [PHA NAME]?

 Yes 1

 No 0 SKIP TO Q29

 Don’t Know d SKIP TO Q29

27. Which of the following does your agency do to assist FUP-eligible youth with their housing search? Please do not include assistance that is only provided by [PHA NAME].

	YES	NO
a. Provide information about different neighborhoods/communities	1 	0 
b. Take youth on neighborhood tours	1 	0 
c. Transport youth to visit housing units	1 	0 
d. Provide a listing of vacant rental units	1 	0 
e. Refer youth to property managers/landlords known to accept FUP vouchers	1 	0 
f. Work with landlords/property managers to help youth secure housing	1 	0 
g. Provide information about tenant rights and responsibilities	1 	0 
h. Provide information about subsidized housing including eligibility requirements	1 	0 
i. Provide information about public transportation services	1 	0 
j. Help youth locate housing near school or work
k. Other (SPECIFY)	1 	0 

28. How does the housing search assistance your agency provides to FUP-eligible youth compare to any housing search assistance your agency provides to FUP-eligible families?

Select one only

 Youth receive MORE housing search assistance 1

 Youth receive ABOUT THE SAME amount of housing search assistance 2

 Youth receive LESS housing search assistance 3

 Don’t Know d

29. Does your agency provide FUP-eligible youth with …

	YES	NO
a. Pre-move counseling?	1 	0 
b. Post-move counseling?	1 	0 

30. [IF Q29a=1 OR Q29b=1 THEN ASK] What does this counseling include?

	YES	NO
a. Information about tenant rights and responsibilities	1 	0 
b. Information about budgeting	1 	0 
c. Information about credit	1 	0 
d. Information about landlord mediation	1 	0 
e. Information about the benefits of living in a low-poverty neighborhood (low poverty areas are areas where the poverty rate is 10% or less)	1 	0 
f. Other (SPECIFY)	1 	0 

C. ADEQUACY OF HOUSING CHOICE USING FUP

31. Please indicate to what degree each of the following appears to be a barrier or an incentive for landlords to lease to a FUP-eligible youth?

	Select one per row
	STRONG BARRIER	BARRIER	NEITHER BARRIER OR INCENTIVE	INCENTIVE	STRONG INCENTIVE	DON’T KNOW
a. Age (lessee is a young adult)	1 	2 	3 	4 	5 	d 
b. Lessee is supported by case management	1 	2 	3 	4 	5 	d 
c. Lessee is a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program/FUP voucher holder	1 	2 	3 	4 	5 	d 
d. Lessee has limited tenancy history	1 	2 	3 	4 	5 	d 
e. The FUP voucher is limited to 18 months	1 	2 	3 	4 	5 	d 

D. TENANCY APPROVAL, LEASE-UP, AND MOVE-IN

32. Once a unit has been approved by the PHA, which of the following types of financial assistance does your agency provide?

Select all that apply

 Help paying for security deposits 1

 Help paying for utility deposits 2

 Help paying for moving costs 3

 Help paying for furniture or house wares 4

 None of the above 5

33. How often is someone from your agency present when youth meet with the landlord to sign the lease?

Select one only

 Almost always 1

 More than half of the time 2

 About half of the time 3

 Less than half of the time 4

 Almost never 5

 Don’t Know d

E. POST-MOVE IN STATUS AND SERVICES

The next set of questions is about what happens during the 18 months that FUP-eligible youth are eligible for housing assistance payments once they have moved into an approved housing unit.

34. Please indicate the frequency with which you or someone else from your agency typically has contact with youth during that 18-month period either in-person or by phone, email, text messaging, or some other means.

	Select one per row
	At least once per week	Twice per month	Once per month	Once per quarter	Once per year
a. In person	1 	2 	3 	4 	5 
b. By phone, email, or text messaging	1 	2 	3 	4 	5 
c . Other (SPECIFY)	1 	2 	3 	4 	5 

35. Which of the following services or supports are provided to FUP-eligible youth during that 18‑month period either (1) directly by your agency or (2) by a contracted service provider?

	Provided by your Agency		Provided by a Contracted Service Provider
	YES	NO	YES	NO	DON’T KNOW
a. Help learning money management skills	1 	2 	1	2 	d 
b. Help learning housekeeping skills	1 	2 	1 	2 	d 
c. Help learning about proper nutrition	1 	2 	1 	2 	d 
d. Help learning about meal preparation	1 	2 	1 	2 	d 
e. Help learning how to access physical and mental health care	1 	2 	1 	2 	d 
f. Help developing other basic life skills	1 	2 	1 	2 	d 
g. Information about tenant rights and responsibilities	1 	2 	1	2 	d 
h. Assistance with security or utility deposits	1 	2 	1 	2 	d 
i. Job readiness training	1 	2 	1	2 	d 
j. Help finding a job	1 	2 	1 	2 	d 
k. Educational services	1 	2 	1 	2 	d 
l. Career counseling	1 	2 	1 	2 
m. Assessment of youth needs	1 	2 	1 	2 	d 
n. Case planning	1 	2 	1 	2 	d 
o. Help with rent arrearages	1 	2 	1 	2 	d 
p. Help with utility arrearages	1 	2 	1 	2 	d 
q. Other assistance to help youth live independently	1 	2 	1 	2 	d 

36. Which of the following types of funding does your agency use to pay for the supportive services that it is required to provide to FUP-eligible youth once they have moved into an approved housing unit?

Select all that apply

 Chafee funds

 State funds

 Funds from another source

37a. Under what circumstances would you or someone from your agency have contact with the owner/landlord/property manager of the youth’s housing unit?

Select all that apply

 To familiarize landlord with FUP program and PCWA role 1

 To respond to issues/problems identified by the youth 2

 To respond to issues/problems identified by [PHA NAME] 3

 To respond to issues/problems identified by the owner 4

 Other (SPECIFY) 5

S

pecify

37b. How often do you or does someone from your agency have contact with the owner/landlord/property manager of the youth’s housing unit?

Select one only

 At least once a month 1

 Every few months 2

 At least once per year 3

 Less than once a year 4

 Never 0

The next set of questions asks about the housing stability of FUP-eligible youth who have leased up.

FUP-eligible youth are eligible for 18 months of housing assistance payments (HAP). However, some youth leave or are terminated from the program before exhausting their 18 months of HAP. The next few questions are about youth who exit the program before their 18 months of HAP are exhausted.

38. What percentage of FUP-eligible youth voluntarily leave the program before their 18 months of HAP are exhausted?

Select one only

 Less than 25% 1

 At least 25% but less than 50% 2

 About 50% 3

 More than 50% but less than 75% 4

 More than 75% 5

 Don’t Know d

39. What is the most common reason FUP-eligible youth voluntarily leave the program before their 18 months of HAP is exhausted?

Select one only

 To live closer to school 1

 To live closer to a job 2

 To live closer to family or friends 3

 To live in a safer neighborhood 4

 To live in more affordable housing (including housing with lower utility costs) 5

 To avoid conflicts with their landlord 6

 To avoid conflicts with neighbors 7

 Youth lack case management or other supportive services 8

 Other reason 9

S

pecify

 Don’t Know d

F. EXITING FUP AFTER 18-MONTH LIMIT

The next set of questions is about the period just before and after FUP-eligible youth reach their 18‑month time limit.

40. Does your agency (or contracting agency) provide transitional counseling or other assistance to FUP-eligible youth as they approach their 18-month time limit? Please do not include any assistance provided by [PHA NAME].

 Yes 1

 No 0 SKIP TO Q43

41. Does your agency (or contracting agency) automatically provide this transitional counseling or other assistance or must youth specifically request it?

Select one only

 Youth must specifically request assistance 1

 Your agency or contractor automatically provides assistance 2

42. Please indicate the type(s) of transitional counseling or other assistance your agency (or contracting agency) provides to FUP-eligible youth as they approach their 18-month time limit? Please do NOT include transitional counseling or other assistance that [PHA NAME] provides.

	YES	NO
a. Information about other housing programs available through your agency	1 	0 
b. Information about housing programs administered by community-based agencies	1 	0 
c. Information about different neighborhoods	1 	0 
d. Take youth on neighborhood tours	1 	0 
e. Transport youth to visit housing units	1 	0 
f. Provide a listing of vacant rental units	1 	0 
g. Refer youth to property managers/landlords	1 	0 
h . Other (SPECIFY)	1 	0 

V. OTHER HOUSING OPTIONS FOR FOSTER YOUTH AGING OUT

We are interested in learning more about housing options other than FUP that are available to youth who have aged out of foster care in JURISDICTION.

43. What happens when former foster youth contact or return to your agency because they are homeless or have no place to live?

Select all that apply

 The youth are referred to a homeless shelter 1

 The youth are referred to [PHA NAME] 2

 The youth are referred to other service providers 3

 The youth are informed about the option to re-enter care 4

 The youth are referred to a housing program administered by your agency 5

 They don’t receive any assistance 6

 Other (SPECIFY) 7

S

pecify

 Don’t Know d

44a. How often is your agency contacted by a homeless shelter or other homeless service provider about an 18 to 20 year old homeless youth who has aged out of foster care?

Select one only

 At least once a month 1

 Every few months 2

 At least once per year 3

 Less than once a year 4

 Never 0

44b. How often is your agency contacted by a homeless shelter or other homeless service provider about homeless youth age 21 or older who has aged out of foster care?

Select one only

 At least once a month 1

 Every few months 2

 At least once per year 3

 Less than once a year 4

 Never 0

44c. [IF Q44a>0 OR Q44b>0 THEN ASK]

What happens when your agency is contacted by a homeless shelter or other homeless service provider in [JURISDICTION] about a homeless youth who has aged out of foster care?

Select all that apply

	YOUTH AGE 18 TO 20	YOUTH AGE 21 OR OLDER
Youth is referred to [PHA NAME]	1 	2 
Youth is referred to other service providers	1 	2 
Youth is informed about the option to re-enter care	1 	2 
Youth is referred to a housing program administered by your agency	1 	2 
Youth doesn’t receive any assistance	1 	2 
j . Other (SPECIFY)	1 	2 

45a. Are youth who have aged out of foster care in [JURISDICTION] eligible for any type of ONGOING ASSISTANCE from your agency to help them with their housing or other living expenses if they are 18 to 20 years old?

 Yes 1

 No 0 SKIP TO Q46a

 Don’t Know d SKIP TO Q46a

45b. What type of ONGOING assistance are they eligible for?

Select all that apply

 Help paying for rent 1

 Help paying for utilities 2

 Help paying for food 3

 Other (SPECIFY) 4

S

pecify

45c. For how many months are they eligible for this ongoing assistance?

MONTHS

46a. Are youth who have aged out of foster care in [JURISDICTION] eligible for any type of ONGOING ASSISTANCE from your agency to help them with their housing or other living expenses if they are age 21 or older?

 Yes 1

 No 0 SKIP TO Q47

 Don’t Know d SKIP TO Q47

46b. What type of ONGOING assistance are they eligible for?

Select all that apply

 Help paying for rent 1

 Help paying for utilities 2

 Help paying for food 3

 Other (SPECIFY) 4

S

pecify

46c. For how many months are they eligible for this ongoing assistance?

MONTHS

47. Are young people who have aged out of foster care in [JURISDICTION] eligible for any type of ONE-TIME OR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE from your agency to help them with their housing or other living expenses if they are 18 to 20 years old?

 Yes 1

 No 0 SKIP TO Q49a

 Don’t Know d SKIP TO Q49a

48. What type of ONE-TIME OR EMERGENCY assistance are they eligible for?

Select all that apply

 Help paying for rent 1

 Help paying for utilities 2

 Help paying for food 3

 Other (SPECIFY) 4

S

pecify

49a. Are young people who have aged out of foster care in [JURISDICTION] eligible for any type of ONE-TIME OR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE from your agency to help them with their housing or other living expenses if they are age 21 or older?

 Yes 1

 No 0 SKIP TO Q50

 Don’t Know d SKIP TO Q50

49b. What type of ONE-TIME OR EMERGENCY assistance are they eligible for?

Select all that apply

 Help paying for rent 1

 Help paying for utilities 2

 Help paying for food 3

 Other (SPECIFY) 4

S

pecify

The next few questions are about the different types of housing available to young people who have aged out of or been emancipated from foster care in [JURISDICTION].

50. Please indicate whether the following housing options are available to youth who have aged out of foster care in JURISDICTION through YOUR AGENCY or another organization, including your partner PHA. Please answer for youth age 18 to 20 and for youth age 21 or older.

	YOUTH AGE 18 TO 20			YOUTH AGE 21 OR OLDER
	YES	NO	DON’T KNOW	YES		NO		DON’T KNOW
a. Scattered-site or semi-supervised apartments (Youth live alone or with a roommate in an apartment rented from a private landlord).	1 	2 	d 	1 		2 		d 
b. Clustered or supervised apartments (youth live alone or with a roommate in an apartment located in an agency-owned building with 24/7 supervision).	1 	2 	d 	1 		2 		d 
c. Shared homes (several youth live together in and take responsibility for an agency-owned or rented house, with minimal supervision or live-in adults).	1 	2 	d 	1 		2 		d 
d. Adult-roommate apartments (youth share an apartment with an adult who serves as a mentor.	1 	2 	d 	1 		2 		d 
f. Host homes (youth rent a room and share facilities in a home that is not licensed for foster care).	1 	2 	d 	1 		2 		d 
g. Boarding homes (youth live in a room and share kitchen facilities with minimal supervision).	1 	2 	d 	1 		2 		d 
h. Subsidized housing (youth live in an apartment and the government covers part of the rent).	1 	2 	d 	1 		2 		d 
j . Other (SPECIFY)	1 	2 	d 	1 		2 		d 

51. Are any of the following available to youth who aged out of foster care in your JURISDICTION? Please include any county- or statewide programs for which youth in JURISDICTION might be eligible. Please answer for youth age 18 to 20 and for youth age 21 or older.

	YOUTH AGE 18 TO 20			YOUTH AGE 21 OR OLDER
	YES	NO	DON’T KNOW	YES	NO	DON’T KNOW
a. Publicly owned housing units	1 	2 	d 	1 	2 	d 
b. Rental subsidies for privately owned housing units	1 	2 	d 	1 	2 	d 
c. One-time assistance with housing-related costs such as first-month’s rent, security or utility deposits, moving and storage costs	1 	2 	d 	1 	2 	d 
d. Housing-related supportive services: e.g., advocacy and search assistance	1 	2 	d 	1 	2 	d 
e. Youth doesn’t receive any assistance	1 	2 	d 	1 	2 	d 
f. Other supportive services (for example, case management, or independent living skills training).	1 	2 	d 	1 	2 	d 

VI. PROGRESS AND CHALLENGES USING FUP

The questions in this section ask about the challenges your agency has faced and the progress it has made helping youth address their housing needs using FUP vouchers.

52. Below is a list of factors that may affect your agency’s ability to administer FUP to eligible youth. For each factor, please indicate how much of a challenge it presents/has presented to your agency.

	Select one per row
	NOT A CHALLENGE	SOMEWHAT OF A CHALLENGE	MAJOR CHALLENGE
a. Rental market conditions (e.g., affordability and/or quality of appropriate rental housing)	1 	2 	3 
b. 18-month time limit on FUP assistance	1 	2 	3 
c. Coordination with [PHA NAME]	1 	2 	3 
d. Administrative costs	1 	2 	3 
e. Service provision costs	1 	2 	3 
f. Staffing resources	1 	2 	3 
g. Wait list procedures and administration	1 	2 	3 
h. Relationships with landlords/property managers	1 	2 	3 
i. Duration of search process	1 	2 	3 
j. Complexity of leasing process (for initial units and unit changes)	1 	2 	3 
k. Inability to refer youth to FUP more than one week before they age out	1 	2 	3 
l. Other (SPECIFY)	1 	2 	3 

53. Please indicate how much progress your agency has made with respect to each of the following since it has been partnering with [PHA NAME] to serve FUP-eligible youth. Progress can refer to any aspect of implementation that is meaningful to your agency, such as increased efficiency or effectiveness.

	Select one per row
	NO PROGRESS	SOME PROGRESS	A GREAT DEAL OF PROGRESS	DON’T KNOW/ INFO UNAVAILABLE
a. Coordination with PHA	0 	1 	2 	d 
b. Identification and referral process	0 	1 	2 	d 
c. Housing search and selection process	0 	1 	2 	d 
d. Lease-up and move in process	0 	1 	2 	d 
e. Providing required services	0 	1 	2 	d 
f. Increasing housing stability while youth are in the program	0 	1 	2 	d 
g. Reducing voucher turnover	0 	1 	2 	d 
h. Reducing post-FUP homelessness and housing instability	0 	1 	2 	d 

VII. PERSPECTIVES ON PRACTICE AND POLICY

54. The Foster Care Independence Act allows states to spend up to 30% of their Chafee funds on “room and board” for young people who are at least 18 but not yet 21 years old. In your opinion, should this 30% limit be higher, lower, or remain the same?

Select one only

 Higher 1

 Lower 2

 Remain the same 3

 Don’t Know d

55. Under the current statutory requirements, FUP-eligible youth are limited to 18-months of housing assistance payments (HAP). In your opinion, should this time limit be eliminated, reduced, extended, or remain the same?

Select one only

 Eliminated 1 SKIP TO Q57

 Reduced 2

 Extended 3

 Remain the same 4 SKIP TO Q57

 Don’t Know d

56. In your opinion, for how many months should FUP-eligible youth be eligible for HAP?

MONTHS

57. Your agency is required to provide a specific set of services to FUP-eligible youth during their 18-months of eligibility for HAP. In your opinion, should this service requirement be eliminated?

 Yes, eliminate service requirement 1

 No, do NOT eliminate service requirement 0

58. This service requirement does not apply to FUP-eligible families. Should this service requirement also apply to FUP-eligible families?

 Yes, service requirement should apply to families 1

 No, service requirement should not apply to families 0

59. HUD policies state that youth must have left foster care at age 16 or older and must lack adequate housing before being eligible for FUP. A lack of adequate housing is defined in several ways, including but not limited to: being homeless, being in imminent danger of losing their housing (one week from eviction from a private dwelling unit), or living in an overcrowded unit.

Based on your professional experience working with this population, should child welfare agencies be able to make FUP referrals to the PHA while the youth is still housed in the foster care system?

 Yes 1

 No 0 GO TO END

60. Based on your professional experience working with this population, how long prior to the youth aging out of foster care should child welfare agencies be able to make FUP referrals to the PHA?

Select one only

 1 week before youth leave care 1

 1 month before youth leave care 2

 3 months before youth leave care 3

 6 months before youth leave care 4

 More than 6 months before youth leave care 5

 Don’t Know d

Thank you for your time. We appreciate your responses. They will help the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development better understand and plan for housing services for transitioning foster youth.