Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC) has been awarded Section 8 Housing Choice vouchers through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Family Unification Program (FUP) to serve two populations within the foster care program.
The 18 vouchers will assist families for which living conditions are the only obstacle preventing them from being reunited with children in foster care and also help young adults who age out of the foster care program. Voucher recipients will be referred by the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS).
Families can be delayed in being reunited with their children in the foster care program if they lack adequate housing due to dilapidated or overcrowded conditions or an imminent risk of losing the home. The FUP vouchers can be used to subsidize housing costs for an appropriate leased unit, enabling families to reunite.
Another need within the foster care system is to assist young adults who age out of the foster care program and need to find affordable housing. The vouchers can subsidize appropriate housing for up to three years for young adults ages 18-24 who are homeless or at risk to be homeless. In addition to housing assistance, young adults can receive other support services during the transition, such as money management skills, job preparation, educational counseling, proper nutrition and meal preparation.
“These Family Unification Program vouchers allow us to serve two vulnerable populations within the foster care program,” KCDC Executive Director and CEO Ben Bentley said. “These vouchers will help keep families together and provide a platform for youth to achieve self-sufficiency.”
KCDC’s Section 8 Housing office, led by director Debbie Taylor-Allen, secured the FUP vouchers through a competitive process. In total, 68 housing vouchers have been added this year to the KCDC portfolio, bringing the total to 4,026.
For more information about the Family Unification Program or Section 8 affordable housing in Knoxville and Knox County, contact KCDC’s Section 8 Housing office at 865-403-1234 or visit https://www.kcdc.org.