Bri is a 23-year-old from Austin, Texas, and a graduate of TNOYS’ Young Adult Leadership Council (YALC). As an emerging young adult leader on TNOYS’ YALC and LifeWorks’ Impactful Voices program, Bri has shared their story with many across the state, from legislators at the Texas Capitol to youth-serving providers. They believe that young people need advocates to uplift their voices and support them. Bri’s goal is to be this person for youth and young adults.
Bri recently worked with TNOYS on a blog post about their experience aging out of foster care, navigating housing instability as a young adult, accessing a Foster Youth to Independence (FYI voucher), and the support that could have helped them. Bri’s experience highlights a critical gap: young people transitioning out of foster care and into adulthood need proactive, plain-language guidance and consistent case management so they aren’t left to navigate complex housing rules and their future stability alone. Read their blog post below.
When people talk about turning eighteen, they usually talk about freedom. For me, eighteen felt like a countdown to an invisible cliff. In the foster care system, young people spend their whole childhood being told where to sit, what to eat, and where to sleep. Then, the clock strikes midnight on your birthday, and suddenly, the “system” is finished with you. I had no aftercare case planning during this time, and I had never been told that extended foster care was even an option. One day I had a caseworker, a place to sleep, and a meal plan, and the next, I was a young person living on the streets because my last “placement” legally didn’t have to keep me anymore.
Once I became a legal adult this meant I needed to get a job and a permanent address. But to get an apartment, I also needed a job and a rental history. As a young person who aged out of foster care and onto the streets, I had neither. I spent the next couple of years couch-surfing before I learned that I was eligible for a Transitional Living Program. I lived there until my 21st birthday, which is when I aged out of extended care. Thankfully, by the time I turned 21 I had been approved for the Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Program, which provides young people with access to rental assistance through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
My PAL worker told me that, as an FYI Program recipient, I would receive a housing voucher that would last until I turned 25. The voucher would cover my entire rent, while I handled utilities. I was so excited about the thought of stability and independence, and I moved into an apartment where I stayed for about a year and a half. While I was grateful not to be homeless, I was still in survivor mode—experiencing depression, working two jobs, and struggling to settle in. Then one day, I came home from work to find a 30-day notice to vacate on my front door. I was confused and I was scared. I moved out the very next day and stayed with my sister.
Working with my Housing Authority case manager, I learned something shocking: the voucher had not been covering my full rent at my apartment. I had a portion I was responsible for, but no one had ever told me. Because the voucher packet wasn’t written in accessible language, I was unaware I was responsible for a portion of my rent, which led to the sudden notice to vacate and a $2,000 debt. To this day, I am still working to pay this debt to the apartment complex. I was also left blindsided when I discovered the voucher was capped at 36 months rather than lasting until my 25th birthday, putting my housing in jeopardy as I prepared to start an HVAC training program.
Access to an FYI voucher gave me a vital bridge to stability, but navigating it brought severe unexpected hurdles due to a lack of clear communication and consistent support. Looking back, I needed someone to sit down to explain the voucher requirements in simple terms and clarify the timeline rules. This would have prevented a huge amount of debt, confusion, and sudden housing risk. I also believe that young people should be set up for success while still in foster care by being taught skills such as how to read a lease and or how to save for a security deposit. After aging out of foster care, I believe that young people should have access to a mentor and housing as they work to secure a job and transition into adulthood.
Today, I am happy to say that, with the help of a supportive program here in Austin, I have secured a two-year extension on my FYI voucher along with consistent, dedicated case management to help me navigate the road ahead. With my housing stabilized, my goal for the future is to successfully complete my four-month HVAC training program, transition into a higher-paying career, and build the financial security needed to achieve long-term independence.