“This is one of those circumstances that in Dayton, Ohio, people said ‘This shouldn’t be this way. This should be changed.’ And by advocating on a national level, we’ve changed the law and foster children across the country are going to be impacted.”
The Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act mandates federal agencies set aside vouchers for housing for youths who age out of the system so that they no longer face homelessness, Turner said. He said a large number of young adults who age out of the foster care system end up homeless or with insecure housing. The bill, which was passed as part of the CARES Act, has requirements that the young adults must participate in training, work, or school in order to maintain the voucher, he said.
In Montgomery County, about 60 to 75 children age out of the system a year and about 350 have aged out of the system in the last five years, officials with Montgomery County Children Services said. In Ohio, about 1,400 children age out of the system a year.
“The voices in Dayton changed the voices in Washington D.C.,” Turner said.
During a press conference Wednesday morning, foster care children advocates spoke about how the new law will help those leaving the system. Cloe Cooper, who is a former foster care youth, said the change has been in the works for years.
“This life-changing legislation provides on-demand housing vouchers for young adults exiting foster care who are at risk of homelessness. It supersedes any barrier that once prevented our population from accessing this resource and gives former foster kids a chance to finally have a home of their own. Their chance to build a life they deserve.”
Also supporting the law Wednesday was Montgomery County Commissioner Debbie Lieberman, Doris Edelmann with Action Ohio Youth Advisory Board, Jamole Callahan, director of training and development at ACTION Ohio, and foster care advocates Jonathon Thomas and Sydney Dykes.
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