In most states, financial support to families for their foster care children ends when the child becomes 18. When a young person “ages out” of foster care, the road can get rough.
Aging out of foster care can suddenly result in having no family, no social network or financial support, and no place to live. Across the nation, almost one-quarter of young people aging out of foster care become homeless.
According to a 2016 report by United Community Services of Johnson County, KS and other state and national data, affordable housing is a key component of the solution.
Fortunately, helping these emerging adults is manageable in our community. A small number of affordable housing units will make a significant contribution to meeting the needs of the 8 to 10 young people who age out of foster care annually in our area.
