Aug
05
2022
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Senator Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita) announces that more than $2 million in funding from the Housing Navigators Program (HNP) will go to child welfare services in Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties.
A program of the California Department of Housing and Community Development, the HNP funds housing specialists (“navigators”) to serve in counties across the state. These navigators will help young adults aged 18 to 21 locate and maintain housing. The HNP was designed to prioritize and benefit the foster youth population in particular.
“Our state’s foster youth deserve to find success after leaving the system,” said Wilk. “Unfortunately, the data shows that California’s housing and homelessness challenges disproportionately impact those who were formerly in foster care.”
The Senate Republican legislative package to ACT on combating homelessness, which calls for Accountability, Compassion, and Treatment (ACT), acknowledges that former foster youth can be at a greater risk for homelessness. A study found that “close to 31% of transition-age foster youth experience homelessness” in California.
“Support for foster youth has been a legislative focus of mine for years,” concluded Wilk. “I am pleased to see an HCD program that recognizes the needs of our foster youth.”
Learn more about the Republican ACT plan to combat homelessness here.