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Insights from San Francisco’s Mayoral Forum on Transition-Age Foster Youth

As the CEO of First Place for Youth, I’m thrilled to share my thoughts and impressions on the recent mayoral candidates’ forum on foster care hosted by Safe & Sound and CASA in San Francisco. It was truly refreshing to see such a strong focus by all the candidates on older foster youth, the unique challenges they face, and the opportunity we have to support them as the transition into adulthood. To be sure, this is a moment where we need to seize the time.  

A Welcome Shift in Focus 

Typically, when politicians discuss foster care, they tend to concentrate on younger children and adolescents still in the system. While younger children certainly deserve our attention, it’s rare and encouraging to see the whole field of candidates running for the top seat in San Francisco shine a spotlight on the needs of transition-age foster youth (ages 18-25) – those who are aging out or have recently aged out of the traditional foster care system. 

The Forum on Foster Youth was a Q&A conversation led by youth with lived experience in foster care. I was inspired to see one of our own First Place for Youth program participants ask the candidates to speak to their understanding of the complexities surrounding this often-overlooked population. It was heartening to hear candidates acknowledge the diverse experiences of older foster youth and the barriers they encounter with housing, support services, and access to affordable housing as they transition to adulthood. 

Diverse Experiences, Common Challenges 

One crucial point that emerged during the forum was the wide range of experiences among transition-age foster youth. Through no fault of their own, some foster youth have been in the system since infancy, navigating multiple placements and group homes throughout their lives. Their futures are particularly precarious. Others entered foster care as teenagers, facing a different set of challenges as they approach adulthood. This diversity of experiences underscores the need for tailored support and services and systemic changes in how we view and prioritize their needs. Foster youth are often hidden within larger conversations about homelessness when they should be in the center.  

Addressing Youth Homelessness 

The candidates’ recognition of transition-age foster youth as a distinct facet of the homeless population was particularly noteworthy. While homelessness affects various groups – including those facing chronic homelessness, individuals with mental illness, and veterans – former foster youth who’ve aged out of the system face unique obstacles in securing stable housing. They are not often factored into the equation during the planning stages for new construction.  

In addition, it is well documented that San Francisco is arguably the hardest city to build new housing because of the enormous amount of red tape. A report written in 2023 states that “San Francisco must reform its housing approvals ecosystem and facilitate housing production…to ensure that San Francisco’s housing approval policies and practices are consistent with state housing laws, follow best practices, and enable the City to facilitate housing production for residents at all income levels.” On average, housing developers contend with a maze of complex and unpredictable permitting processes that ensure that building is a slow, expensive process. Another report said, it took an average of 523 days for a project to be issued entitlements, and that’s before anything is built!” (Grow SF, 2023). Something’s gotta give. We are better than this. 

A Call for Continued Action 

The Mayoral Forum on Foster Care marks an important step forward in addressing the needs of transition-age foster youth in San Francisco. As we move forward, it’s crucial that we maintain this momentum and work collaboratively to develop comprehensive solutions apropos of housing, college/trade school, and employment—catalytic factors that will improve the life course of these young adults as they navigate the challenging transition to independence. 

By all metrics, this is a solvable problem. I’m optimistic that this increased awareness will lead to meaningful policy changes and expanded support services for transition-age foster youth in our communities. Transition-age foster youth are 38x more likely to experience homelessness than their same-age peers (according to CalYOUTH at age 23). By focusing on this often-overlooked population, we have the opportunity prevent homelessness by going upstream to cap the pipeline that leads to it. We all have a role to play. No-one is absolved from responsibility. We know what works to make a lasting impact on the lives of young people who have already faced significant challenges, we just need to invest more and implement it.  

Join Us in Creating Lasting Impact 

As we continue our work at First Place for Youth, I invite you to join us in supporting transition-age foster youth. Your donation can help create lasting impact in the lives of these young folks as they transition to adulthood. By contributing to our programs, you’re investing in their future success and helping to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness that too often affects former foster youth. Together, we can ensure that every young person leaving the foster care system has the support, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive. Please consider making a donation today and help us continue this vital work. 

Thomas Lee, CEO, First Place for Youth 

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