Res 1073-2016

By Council Members Salamanca, Levin, Dromm, Eugene, Richards, Chin, Grodenchik, Miller, Johnson, Cohen, Mendez, Menchaca, Lander and Van Bramer Whereas, Several national studies have demonstrated that many youth who age out of foster care are most likely to become homeless, lack a high school diploma, become involved in the criminal justice system, and rely on public assistance; and Whereas, According to the most recent data provided by the Administration for Children's Services ("ACS"), there are 9,748 youth in the New York City foster care system; and Whereas, Youth who are discharged from foster care either reunify with their families, enter legal guardianship by a relative, become adopted, or end up living on their own; and Whereas, In 2015, 4,462 youth in New York City were discharged from the foster care system, of which 652 were discharged to independent living, also known as another planned permanent living arrangement (APPLA), according to ACS data; and Whereas, The Housing Subsidy program administered through ACS provides rental assistance to families who need housing in order to reunify with children in foster care or to prevent children from entering foster care; and Whereas, Young adults ages 18-21 who have no other permanent living arrangement than to live independently after leaving foster care are also eligible for this program; and Whereas, The Housing Subsidy program currently provides a maximum monthly rent allowance of $300; and Whereas, The subsidy amount has remained the same since 1988, during which rents throughout New York City have dramatically increased; and Whereas, Youth advocates argue that public housing for which foster youth and their families qualify is extremely limited and there are not enough supportive housing units; and Whereas, Of the 652 foster youth discharged to APPLA, less than half received some type of housing assistance, including public housing, ACS housing subsidies, supportive housing, Section 8 vouchers or adult residential care; and Whereas, In fact, only 48 youth who aged out of foster care received an ACS housing subsidy in 2015; and Whereas, Advocates also argue that youth who have aged out of foster care at age 21 do not have enough income to afford housing, and thus, the age eligibility for a housing subsidy should be increased to 24 to cover more young people who have been negatively impacted by the current policy; and Whereas, It is extremely important for the State to enact legislation that would amend the Social Services law to increase the housing subsidy from a maximum of $300 to $600 per month, not exceeding three years, for youth up to age 24 who aged out of the foster care system; and Whereas, Such legislation should also allow former foster youth to live with roommates just as other young adults make such living arrangements to afford their rent; and Whereas, In order to reduce the risk of homelessness among youth who have aged out of foster care, New York State must increase the housing subsidy to enable them to achieve self-sufficiency; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign legislation that would increase the amount of housing subsidy from $300 to $600 per month, and to extend the age eligibility from 21 to 24 for youth who have aged out of foster care. LS 6177 9/28/16 TC