Congressman Darin LaHood of Illinois and Congresswoman Gwen Moore of Wisconsin have introduced the Foster Youth Housing Opportunity Act, a bipartisan bill designed to help young people transition from foster care to independent living by improving access to housing. The proposed legislation seeks to strengthen partnerships between states and local organizations, aiming for better coordination of housing vouchers and opportunities for former foster youth.
LaHood said, “As Chairman of the Work and Welfare Subcommittee, I take seriously our responsibility to ensure that future generations have the best chance to succeed. I thank Congresswoman Moore for her leadership and joining me to introduce the Foster Youth Housing Opportunity Act to better help youth transitioning out of foster care find stable housing. We must continue our work to uplift the most vulnerable among us and provide them with resources to pursue the American Dream.”
Moore added, “We must boost investments in our foster youth and foster families. That is one of my priorities as co-chair of the bipartisan Caucus on Foster Youth, and why I joined Rep. LaHood in introducing the Foster Youth Housing Opportunity Act. Our bill would help improve coordination between existing housing programs at HUD and child welfare systems while providing states more flexibility to use Chafee funds to help cover housing-related costs and services for foster youth as they age out. These efforts will better support foster youth and their long-term stability.”
The bill proposes several measures:
– It improves access by strengthening coordination with federal Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) vouchers through public housing agencies.
– It allows Chafee funds greater flexibility for supportive housing services beyond current caps on room or board expenses.
– It aligns age eligibility with FYI voucher requirements.
This legislative effort builds upon initiatives such as First Lady Melania Trump’s commitment to supporting young Americans leaving foster care, particularly through the Foster Youth to Independence Initiative.
According to data cited in support of the bill, almost 35 percent of former foster youth experience homelessness by age 21. The lack of stable housing remains a significant barrier as these individuals move into adulthood. The act clarifies that the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program is intended to enhance cooperation between federal housing assistance and child welfare agencies.
Darin LaHood has represented Illinois’ 16th district in Congress since 2015 after succeeding Aaron Schock (https://lahood.house.gov/about). He was re-elected in 2022 by defeating Elizabeth Haderlein with over 66 percent of the vote (https://ballotpedia.org/Darin_LaHood). Born in Peoria, Illinois in 1968, LaHood currently resides there at age 54. He holds degrees from Loras College (BA) and John Marshall Law School in Chicago (JD).
The full text of the legislation is available online.
