This commentary is by Jessie Warren, youth development program director at Elevate Youth Services in Barre.
We are writing to express our deep concern regarding the recent decision to end the pandemic-era general assistance housing program expansion in Vermont. This will adversely affect youth and families with lived experience in foster care who are currently experiencing homelessness and housing instability.
The Youth Development Program believes it is the state’s responsibility to prioritize the well-being and future of these vulnerable youth.
The Youth Development Program is a statewide initiative that works with youth ages 14-23 in foster care or those who have aged out. Our mission is to ensure that youth with foster care experience enter adulthood with the necessary support to build productive and fulfilling lives. Youth who have experienced foster care are at higher risk for adverse outcomes such as homelessness, unemployment, and lower educational and vocational attainment.
YDP aims to ensure that youth exiting the foster care system in Vermont have the opportunity to rise above risk factors, find resilience and not only survive, but thrive.
The general assistance housing program expansion has been a lifeline for many youth and families with lived experience in foster care, providing them with a safe and stable temporary housing option during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond. With the sudden termination of this program, we risk leaving numerous youth without a secure place to call home.
This decision not only jeopardizes their immediate safety, but also has long-term implications for their emotional and educational development.
One YDP client utilized the general assistance housing program when they were evicted from their apartment and had to leave all their belongings behind. When asked what their goals were, they stated, “l want to be housed. I have to carry everything I own around with me all the time so it won’t get stolen. We also don’t have access to food right now.” I will “work with economic services to stay in the motel while I work on long-term housing referrals with YDP.”
Moreover, the pandemic-era motel program helped bridge the gap between the foster care system and transitioning to a more permanent living environment. By discontinuing this program, we are likely to see a surge in disruptions for housing stability, further exacerbating the challenges these youth face and contributing to chronic homelessness.
The well-being of youth in foster care must be a priority, especially during times of crisis and uncertainty. Let us not forget our moral obligation to provide them with the love, care and stability they deserve.
We urge our community leaders and policymakers to come together to find sustainable solutions that ensure the continued safety and well-being of these youth and families.
