Authored by FosterClub staff member + former Lived Experience Leader Bianca Bennett-Scott, MPA

When I turned 21, my world turned upside down. My grandmother, who was more than just family—she was my kinship guardian and my best friend—passed away unexpectedly. Suddenly, I was not only dealing with immense grief but also the question of where I would live next. I was a former foster youth and a grieving young adult with no resources, hoping for support as I navigated independence and my housing application. I waited for my housing application response... and waited... and waited. A year later, I was lucky that the court took sympathy and allowed me to take over my grandmother's lease, but imagine if that never happened. At age 26 I finally received a response regarding my housing application. Just think … all that time, with no stability or certainty. 

Unfortunately, many youth have and continue to go through this—waiting for answers, struggling to find stability, and facing uncertainty about their future. In 2023, over 15,000 young people were in foster care in my home state of New York. Many of us transition out of the system only to be met with a harsh reality: no stable home, scarce resources and support, and an overwhelming amount of bureaucratic red tape.

Here’s something that might shock you: we are 12 times more likely to be evicted from our homes, and 40% of us end up without a stable place to live by the time we turn 24. While there are federal programs designed to help address these concerns, like the Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) and Family Unification Program (FUP), the reality on the ground often falls short. State implementations often stumble because they're not fully aware of the housing resources we need and other big system problems.

It’s time we get serious about sparking change. We need to ensure that each of us knows our rights, receives the support we need, and never feels alone in this journey. My story was tough, but there are others out there even more challenging, and that's why we must speak up and advocate for a system that truly supports us.

Together, we can make a real impact. By sharing our stories, understanding programs like the Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) and Family Unification Program (FUP) vouchers, and educating ourselves and others, we can improve our situations and pave the way for those following in our footsteps. Let's ensure that having a safe, stable home is not a luxury—it should be a given, no matter our backgrounds or the challenges we've faced.