Transcript The Family Unification Program

THE
FAMILY UNIFICATION PROGRAM
Online Webinar – November 2, 2009 at 10:00 am PST; 1:00 EST
Presented by the Center for Housing and Child Welfare &
the John Burton Foundation
Call-in phone number for live audio: 916-233-3089
Access code: 207-453-419
November 2009
Webinar Technical Details
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Call-in phone number for live audio:
916-233-3089 ; Access code: 207-453-419
To submit live questions, click on the “Question
and Answer” arrow on your screen, type your
question, and click “Send.”
Purpose of the Presentation
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Educate participants about FUP
Provide information about current funding
opportunity
Case example of FUP utilization in California
 San Francisco Human Services Agency
Share available technical assistance
Answer your questions
Today’s Presenters
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Ruth Ann White, National Center for Housing and
Child Welfare
Amy Lemley, John Burton Foundation
Dan Kelly, San Francisco Human Services Agency
What is The Family Unification Program
(FUP)?
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FUP is a collaboration between Housing
Authorities and Child Welfare Agencies.
FUP is a program designed to strengthen and
stabilize child welfare families.
FUP is a housing program for two target
populations:
 FUP-Eligible Family
 FUP-Eligible Youth
Program Goals
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To increase the housing resources of child welfare
families to prevent the separation of children from
their parents because of inadequate housing
To ease the transition to adulthood for youth aging
out of foster care
To facilitate and expedite access to housing and
supportive services through agency collaboration
What is the History of FUP?
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Established in 1992
Over 41,000 vouchers have been issued since
program inception
 6,076 vouchers have been issued to California
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54% of CA jurisdictions have gotten FUP vouchers
Vouchers issued annually until 2001
 No new vouchers until 2009
California jurisdictions with 250+ FUP vouchers
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Frenso County, Riverside County, LA County, Merced County, City of
Fresno, San Diego County, City of Los Angeles & City of Anaheim
FUP Vouchers Issued: 1992 to 2009
9,000
8,639 (Nationally)
8,000
7,000
6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
1,625 (California)
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09
20
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20
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20
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20
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20
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02
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01
20
00
20
99
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92
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A coalition of advocacy organizations has asked HUD to issue 5,000 annually
Who is Eligible for FUP Vouchers?
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FUP-Eligible Family
 Family that the PCWA has certified as a family for whom the lack of
adequate housing is the primary factor in the imminent placement of
the family’s child, in the delay of discharge and that the PHA has
determined is eligible.
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FUP-Eligible Youth
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A youth that the PCWA has certified to be at least 18 years old and not
more than 21 who left foster care at age 16 or older and who does not
have adequate housing and that the PHA determined is eligible
Recent Developments in FUP
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HUD awarded $20 million in 2009
 2,551 vouchers to 37 jurisdictions
 CA recipients: San Francisco (100), San Mateo (40)
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HUD to award additional $20 million
 $5.4 million granted to FY 2008 applicants
 CA recipients: City of Alameda (50), Santa Clara County (100),
County of Stanislaus (100), City of Santa Barbara (25), Kern County
(100), Sonoma County (50)
Current Funding Opportunity
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$14.6 million still available
 Application deadline: December 3rd
 Approximately 1,940 new FUP vouchers
 Max. # of vouchers awarded: based on # of
Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs)
 One application per PHA
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“Approvable applications…shall be funded first…”
FUP Application Basics
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Application made by Public Housing Authority
(PHA)
PHAs are not county-based but rather based on
“entitled jurisdictions”
Requires a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
with public Child Welfare Agency (CWA)
Requires provision of supportive services
FUP: Based on PHAs, not Counties
Possible Partnerships for Alameda Social Services Agency
Berkeley
PHA
Oakland
PHA
City of
Alameda
PHA
Alameda
County
PHA
For a list of PHAs in CA: http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/pha/contacts/states/ca.cfm
What Services Must be Provided to
FUP Youth?
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Basic life skills
Counseling on compliance with rental lease
requirements
Job preparation and attainment counseling
Education and career advancement counseling
Assurances to rental property as necessary
Participation of youth in case plan
Services may be provided by PCWA or contracted
provider
What Services are Provided to
Support FUP Families?
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Service needs are determined on a case by case
basis
HUD and CWLA suggest at least 60-90 days of
follow-up services
Most common services:
 on-going
case management
 family counseling, parenting classes
 drug and alcohol treatment
 budgeting
How Can FUP and THP-Plus Work
Together?
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FUP requires supportive services for transition-age
youth
THP-Plus provides offer these supportive services
Using FUP vouchers makes THP-Plus funding go
farther
 40% of THP-Plus costs are housing costs
Case Study: San Francisco Human
Services Agency
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SF Public Housing Authority was the applicant
Received 100 vouchers in 2009; first time
70% for families; 30% for transition-age youth
SF PHA will review waiting list to identify eligible
candidates
HSA will then review exiting case load to identify
eligible candidates
Vouchers are portable
Next Steps:
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Contact your public housing authority TODAY
 Determine
if they are planning to apply
 Ask about status of previously issued FUP vouchers
 Ask how many youth FUP vouchers they have, and
how they are being distributed
 Inquire about how the required supportive services are
being provided
 Invite the PHA representative to participate in your
standing collaborations
List of PHAs, # of vouchers by jurisdiction and presentation will be posted at
www.thpplus.org/past.html
Next Steps:
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Contact your county child welfare agency
 Educate them about this opportunity
 Encourage them to contact PHA
 Discuss how FUP fits into your county’s strategy
to addresses homelessness among FFY
Access technical assistance
 Review available materials: www.nchcw.org
 Use the sample MOU
 Access individual TA
Questions or Comments?
Enter questions on your screen now by clicking the
“Question and Answer” arrow, typing your question, and
clicking “Send.”
Or direct later questions or comments to:
Ruth Ann White, Executive Director
National Center for Housing and Child Welfare
(301) 699-0151
[email protected]
Amy Lemley, Policy Director
John Burton Foundation
(415) 693-1322
[email protected]