Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act of 2019

Floor Speech

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Ms. DEAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4300, the Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act, and I thank the manager, Mr. Green, and Representative Wagner for their wholehearted support.

The Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act is a bipartisan bill that addresses the needs of foster youth facing homelessness as they age out of the foster care system.

Every year, approximately 20,000 young people across this country age out of foster care. Studies show that between one-fifth to one-third of these young adults will become homeless in transition years.

That sudden and permanent transition from foster care to adulthood-- including the loss of financial, educational, and social supports that the child welfare system provides--places these vulnerable youth at risk of homelessness and housing instability.

In my home State of Pennsylvania, for example, 32 percent of foster youth surveyed in fiscal year 2018 reported that they had been homeless by the age of 21. That is nearly a third of the young people coming out of the foster care system.

The Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act will address this problem by reforming and extending the current voucher system. It provides vouchers from HUD on demand to foster youth who are at risk of becoming homeless, rather than forcing them to spend years on waiting lists.

Furthermore, this bill incentivizes young people to participate in self-sufficiency activities by extending their assistance for up to an additional 2 years. Qualifying activities include pursuing an education, workforce development, or employment.

Finally, the Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act builds upon the current Family Unification Program under the foster youth portion to better align the child welfare and affordable housing systems and to coordinate and improve the lives of foster youth.

This bill is endorsed by more than 40 organizations, including the National Alliance to End Homelessness, National Low Income Housing Coalition, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, and the Child Welfare League of America.

I thank my colleague on the Financial Services Committee in particular, Congressman Stivers, for his leadership on this bipartisan bill; as well as Congresswoman Bass, founder and co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth; and Congressman Turner, who has been a leader on this issue for many years.

Finally, I thank the Financial Services Committee chair, Chairwoman Waters, for her support on this legislation.

The Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act passed the Financial Services Committee unanimously, and I urge Members of the full House to pass it as well.

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