Turner and Dean Introduce The Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act

Statement

Today, Representatives Mike Turner (OH-10), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Karen Bass (CA-37), and Steve Stivers (OH- 15) introduced a revised version of The Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act (FSHO), a bipartisan bill designed to increase access to housing for youth aging out of foster care without increasing federal spending.

"The Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act will help break the cycle of federally created homelessness, in which youth are currently aging out of foster care and into homelessness," said Turner. "Roughly 21,000 youth across the country age out of foster care each year. This bill will create a pathway for kids aging out of the foster care system to transition successfully into independence. Aging out of foster care should not mean aging into homelessness. I am proud to have championed FSHO since its inception in 2015 -- and after four years of refining this legislation, working directly with foster youth and alumni, and collaborating with Members on both sides of the aisle, I look forward to advancing FSHO through the House of Representatives."

"Young people leaving foster care are often at great risk of homelessness and poverty," said Rep. Dean. "This legislation will help them keep a roof over their heads as they claim their education or build a career."

"At 18, life is just getting started, and foster youth should not have their potential squandered by homelessness," Rep. Stivers said. "We should be giving kids all the tools they need to succeed, and that is what this legislation does. I'm proud to partner with Reps. Turner, Dean, and Bass to introduce the FSHO, and look forward to the impact it will make for over 20,000 foster youth."

"We applaud the Financial Services Committee staff for working in close partnership with foster youth to craft this elegantly simple, yet sophisticated solution to homelessness," said Ruth White, executive director of the National Center for Housing and Child Welfare. "With this re-introduction of FSHO Mrs. Dean, Mrs. Bass, Mr. Turner, and Mr. Stivers are leading a bipartisan effort to close the systems gaps through which foster youth age out into homelessness and instead set them on a path to economic success."

"As a former foster youth who has been advocating for over a decade to improve access to housing and self-sufficiency services for my brothers and sisters in care, it is hard to express how gratifying it has been to work in full partnership with Hill staff to craft FSHO," said Jamole Callahan, Director of Training and Development for ACTION Ohio. "Reps. Dean, Bass, Turner, and Stivers have set a high bar for what it means to value the voices of youth and as a result youth no longer have to experience homelessness - instead they will thrive."

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