California Fights Federal Cuts, Invests in Housing for At-Risk Youth
As the Trump administration pulls housing and services out from under American families, california is standing up for Californians by filing a suit challenging the HUD’s cuts to vital funding. Today, the state also announced its continued work to fill the gap and provide crucial resources for at-risk youth exiting the foster care and probation systems to prevent them from experiencing homelessness. The funds managed by the California Department of Housing and Community Advancement (HCD) will provide direct aid to counties and provide local resources and services for youth transitioning out of foster care or probation systems in California.
“These state grants help give vulnerable young adults – many without family support systems – access to stability and opportunity that can change the trajectory of their lives,” said Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Secretary Tomiquia Moss. “In partnership with counties, we are ensuring youth leaving foster care or the probation system have the resources to achieve and retain stable housing.”
Keeping vulnerable youth off the streets
Since 2020, California has funded three Transitional Age youth (TAY) programs through HCD to help counties provide housing and supportive services to keep vulnerable youth off the streets and on a path to success.
In 2024, through programs such as this and other state strategies, California’s young adults (ages 18-24) experiencing homelessness went down for those experiencing homelessness who received services were less likely than the overall population to return to homelessness, indicating more young people who exit the foster care and probation systems are maintaining housing stability.Since 2020, California’s young adult homeless population dropped by nearly 25%, from 11,403 to 8,569 in 2024.
“Through HCD’s Transitional Age Youth programs, the Newsom Administration provides counties yet another resource to support local solutions to homelessness,” said HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez. “With the critical services TAY funds, Californians who have already faced many challenges in their young lives can find stability that puts them on a path to a brighter future.”
The $56 million in HCD’s TAY awards announced today were allocated to counties based on need as demonstrated by each county’s percentage of the statewide total of young adults who are currently or formerly in the foster care or probation systems.The awards include:
* Transitional Housing program (THP), which helps county child welfare agencies identify and assist with housing resources and improve service coordination.
* Housing Navigation and Maintenance Program (HNMP), which provides counties funding to train child welfare agency social workers and probation officers working with non-minor dependents as housing navigators with a broad understanding of available housing resources.
* Transitional Housing Plus Housing Supplement Program (THP-SUP), which allocates grants to help young adults who have exited foster care on or after their 18th birthday in counties with the state’s highest market-rate apartment rental costs.
Since the program’s inception under Governor Gavin Newsom…
Addressing California’s Housing and homelessness Crisis
California is facing a significant housing and homelessness crisis, but Governor Newsom is taking decisive action with a complete strategy focused on accountability, increased housing production, and compassionate solutions. Here’s a breakdown of the key initiatives:
✅ Increasing Housing supply:
The state is implementing groundbreaking reforms to break down systemic barriers that have hindered housing development, including broad CEQA reforms. This aims to streamline the building process and encourage more construction.
✅ Creating Shelter and Support:
Providing funding and programs for local governments, coupled with strong accountability measures, is a priority. This ensures each local government is actively contributing to building housing and providing shelter. The goal is to offer a safe place for individuals currently living in encampments.
✅ Removing Hazardous Encampments:
Governor Newsom expects all local governments to address the issue of encampments and provide pathways to stability for those experiencing homelessness.
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