California increased its number of housing vouchers through the Family Unification Program by 54% between 2021 and 2023, according to a study by John Burton Advocates for Youth.

While tackling broader housing issues may be more complicated, continued investment and attention can lead to long-term solutions for former foster youth, Thomas Lee, chief executive officer at California-based nonprofit First Place for Youth, told NOTUS.

“There are about 25,000 to 50,000 youth that would benefit from foster care support and housing vouchers,” Lee said. “I feel like that is a small enough number to tackle and solve the problem. There are so few problems you can solve in a lifetime, and this is one I feel is actually solvable.”

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