Loudoun County is scheduled to launch the Foster Youth to Independence Initiative Friday, March 1, 2024, with the opening of a targeted waitlist for the county’s Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program strictly serving eligible young adults who are homeless or at risk of being homeless.
The Foster Youth to Independence Initiative is a special purpose voucher funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to expand the availability of housing assistance to young adults with a history of foster care. The program pays a portion of participants’ monthly rent based on household income for a period of up to 36 months. After this time period, the participant may receive continued assistance under the general Housing Choice Voucher program, depending on budget availability and continued participant eligibility.
The Foster Youth to Independence Initiative is a collaborative effort of the Loudoun County Department of Family Services – to assess eligibility of applicants, and the Loudoun County Department of Housing & Community Development – to allocate vouchers to eligible applicants.
Waitlist Eligibility
All applicants for HCV vouchers under the Foster Youth to Independence Initiative must work with the Loudoun County Department of Family Services to determine their eligibility for the HCV waitlist. The population eligible for assistance under this program are young adults meeting the following conditions:
- Are between the ages of 18 and 24.
- Have left foster care, or will leave foster care within 90 days, in accordance with a transition plan described in section 475(5)(H) of the Social Security Act.
- Are homeless or is at risk of becoming homeless at age 16 or older as these terms are defined in the Code of Federal Regulations at 24 CFR 578.3 and 24 CFR 576.2.
- Meet general HCV eligibility criteria as outlined in the HCV Administrative Plan found at loudoun.gov/hcv.
Eligibility is not limited to single persons. For example, young adults who are parents are eligible to receive assistance if they otherwise meet eligibility requirements.
Vouchers are Limited
All eligible applicants will be placed on the HCV waitlist in order of date and time the referral and application are received. Vouchers are limited by federal funding (HUD allows a public housing agency to issue no more than 25 vouchers within a federal fiscal year); being added to the waitlist does not guarantee receipt of a voucher.
How to Apply
Individuals interested in participating in the Foster Youth to Independence Initiative must begin by contacting the Loudoun County Department of Family Services at 703-737-8824.
Anyone who requires a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability or needs language assistance in order to participate in this process, may call 703-737-8323/TTY-711. Advance notice is requested.
For More Information
For more information about the Foster Youth to Independence Initiative and the Housing Choice Voucher Program, call 703-737-8213, send an email or visit loudoun.gov/hcv.
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