Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson visited Milwaukee on Friday to make a big announcement that affects young people in southeast Wisconsin.
"This new program is a collaborative effort to combat homelessness," said Carson.
Carson said 20,000 to 25,0000 young adults age out of foster care every year. Twenty-five percent of them are likely to become homeless within four years. The new program is called Foster Youth to Independence.
"This new initiative will provide local public housing authorities with vouchers for young adults who have recently left foster care," said Carson.
Carson shared the news at Journey House, a Milwaukee organization that helps families move out of poverty. The vouchers are for those 18 to 25 years old. Journey House CEO Michele Bria said that's the most vulnerable age group.
"Having this opportunity for young people who are aging out of foster care to have a faster access and elevation on the list if you would say so that we can gain that voucher to put them in affordable housing means everything," said Bria.
"This new program is a collaborative effort to combat homelessness." — HUD Secretary Ben Carson
Beginning Friday, individuals who qualify can sign up for a voucher. The new initiative is set up to help young adults with housing assistance for three years. The best place to get more information is your local HUD office.
