On May 6, 2022, the Walter S. Johnson Foundation (WSJF) awarded an $800,000 three-year grant to John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY), aiming to drastically reduce homelessness among youth aging out of foster care in California.
Approximately 60,000 youth in California are in foster care at any given time. With an average annual income of $11,904, transitional age foster youth desperately need housing assistance. Unfortunately, the demand for housing greatly exceeds the state’s current housing capacity. Thus, 1 in 4 youth experience homelessness after aging out of care and before turning 23.
With WSJF’s support, JBAY will help increase California’s housing capacity to accommodate 3,500 former foster youth by expanding access to key housing programs, including the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) program, Homekey, the Transitional Housing Placement Program (THP-Plus) and specialized housing choice vouchers. JBAY will also develop and implement a training curriculum for social workers and probation officers, increasing their awareness of the housing and homelessness response system.
JBAY Youth Advocate Christina Torrez recognizes the importance of these resources. After existing foster care, she experienced homelessness for several years. “Unfortunately, I had to go through it all by myself. Although it made me stronger, I wish I had some help at the time.”
To maximize both funding opportunities and impact, JBAY will collaborate with the California Department of Housing and Community Development, the County Welfare Directors Association of California, county child welfare agencies, and community-based providers.
Yali Lincroft, WSJF Program Director and Vice President/Philanthropic Services, Whittier Trust, is looking forward to partnering with JBAY on this project. “We are thrilled to support JBAY, an organization that is dedicated toward improving life outcomes for foster and other vulnerable youth, as well as creating systemic change through legislative action.”
Thanks to this grant opportunity from WSJF, JBAY has been able to secure other dedicated funding for the project, including Tipping Point Community, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, and the Carrie Estelle Doheny Foundation.
According to JBAY Executive Director Amy Lemley, this grant is a major step forward in addressing homelessness among former foster youth in California. “We have identified clear opportunities to better meet the needs of young people. Thank you to the Walter S. Johnson Foundation for supporting our vision. With this grant, we can prevent homelessness and keep young people on track to finish school, secure good jobs and have the same quality of life we want for ourselves and our children.”